Phase 3 · Semaglutide

BARI-STEP trial results

BARI-STEP:A Double-blinded, Randomised, Placebo-controlled Trial of Semaglutide 2.4 mg in Patients With Poor Weight-loss Following Bariatric Surgery.

Percentage Weight Change (percentage change), Baseline and week 68. Placebo: 0.4; Semaglutide 2.4mg: -18.0.

Participants
70
Status
completed
Completed
2025-04-09
Sponsor
University College, London

As posted on ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT05073835), updated at source Oct 26, 2026. Read again whenever the registry updates it. Registry figures can differ from a published paper, which may use another analysis.

Primary outcome

What BARI-STEP measured first

Percentage Weight Changepercentage change · Baseline and week 68 · mean
Placebon=29Semaglutide 2.4mgn=34
0.4(7.0)-18.0(9.2)
Side effects by arm

Side effects in BARI-STEP

Percent of participants affected, 74 weeks (68 weeks of treatment and 6 week wash out period). The most common events the registry lists.

EventPlaceboSemaglutide 2.4mg
Any serious event22.9%8.6%
other82.9%85.7%
Nausea22.9%68.6%
Diarrhoea40%60%
Decreased appetite11.4%42.9%
Upper respiratory tract28.6%40%
Headache28.6%40%
Constipation22.9%37.1%
Dizziness14.3%34.3%
Fatigue28.6%34.3%
Vomiting17.1%28.6%
Injection site reactions25.7%28.6%
Dyspepsia14.3%25.7%
Abdominal pain14.3%22.9%
Abdominal bloating17.1%11.4%
Nasopharyngitis11.4%14.3%
Insomnia2.9%11.4%
Back pain2.9%11.4%
Arthralgia11.4%5.7%
Palpitations2.9%8.6%
Upper abdominal pain0%5.7%
Cholelithiasis0%5.7%
Sinusitis0%5.7%
Influenza5.7%0%
Dry mouth0%5.7%
Renal impairment2.9%5.7%
Secondary outcomes

What else it measured

Categorical Weight Losspercentage of pariticpants · Baseline to 68 weeks · number
MeasurePlacebon=29Semaglutide 2.4mgn=34
<10% weight loss93.114.7
≥10% weight loss6.985.3
≥15% weight loss6.961.8
≥20% weight loss3.447.1
Body Mass Index (BMI)Kg/m^2 · Baseline to 68 weeks · mean
Placebon=28Semaglutide 2.4mgn=33
0.03(1.0)-7.9(1.0)
Body Compositionkg · Baseline to 68 weeks · mean
MeasurePlacebon=28Semaglutide 2.4mgn=33
Adjusted mean change in fat mass0.9(2.3)-15.8(2.3)
Adjusted mean change in lean soft mass-0.2(1.2)-5.5(1.2)
Blood Pressure ChangemmHg · Baseline to 68 weeks · mean
MeasurePlacebon=28Semaglutide 2.4mgn=34
Adjusted mean change in Systolic blood pressure2.00(3.1)-3.9(3.3)
Adjusted mean change in Diastolic blood pressure5.85(2.3)1.64(2.5)
Cardiovascular Outcome - Heart Ratebeats per minute (bmp) · baseline to 68 weeks · mean
Placebon=28Semaglutide 2.4mgn=34
-6.6(2.4)-4.9(2.7)
HbA1cmmol/mol · Baseline to 68 weeks · mean
Placebon=28Semaglutide 2.4mgn=33
1.7(0.8)-3.6(0.8)
Lipid ProfileMmol/l · Baseline to 68 weeks · mean
MeasurePlacebon=28Semaglutide 2.4mgn=33
Total cholesterol0.2(0.2)-0.3(0.2)
Triglycerides0.2(0.2)-0.3(0.2)
High-sensitivity C-reactive Protein (hsCRP)Mg/l · Baseline to 68 weeks · mean
Placebon=28Semaglutide 2.4mgn=31
1.4(1.5)0.4(1.6)
Change in IWQOL-Lite (Impact of Weight on Quality of Life)scores on a scale · Baseline to 68 weeks · mean
Placebon=27Semaglutide 2.4mgn=33
9.3(3.9)23.7(4.1)
Change in Systolic Blood Pressure and Diastolic Blood Pressure in Participants With Pre-existing HypertensionmmHg · Baseline to 68 weeks · mean
MeasurePlacebon=9Semaglutide 2.4mgn=10
Systolic Blood Pressure9.4(3.8)-2.2(3.9)
Diastolic Blood Pressure7.9(2.9)6.3(3.2)
HbA1c in Participants With Pre-existing Type 2 Diabetesmmol/mol · Baseline to 68 weeks · mean
Placebon=4Semaglutide 2.4mgn=3
4(1.5)-3.4(1.8)
Change in Circulating HbA1c Levels in Participants With Pre-diabetesMmol/mol · Baseline to 68 weeks · mean
Placebon=3Semaglutide 2.4mgn=2
0.2(1.6)-8.0(2.3)
The trial

How BARI-STEP was run

A double-blinded, randomised, placebo-controlled trial of semaglutide 3.0 mg/ml in patients with poor weight-loss following bariatric surgery. The primary aim of this trial is to determine whether, and the extent to which, 68 weeks of subcutaneous semaglutide 3.0 mg/ml causes greater percentage weight loss (%WL), reduction in adiposity, improvement in metabolic and inflammatory indices and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) than placebo, in patients with poor weight loss following gastric bypass or sleeve gastrectomy.

  • Intervention: Semaglutide 2.4mg/week subcutaneous injection for 68 weeks. The treatment includes an initial 16-week escalation phase followed by 52 weeks of treatment at study dose, i.e., 2.4mg/week.
  • Control: Placebo administration, once weekly, subcutaneous injection.
Who could join the trial

Inclusion Criteria: 1. Patients, ≥1 year primary GB or primary SG, with poor weight-loss (\<20% WL) that is not caused by either a surgical or psychological problem. 2. Adults, 18-65 years inclusive. 3. Females of childbearing potential and female partners of male participants must be willing to use highly effective method of contraception (hormonal or barrier method of birth control; abstinence) (Appendix 2) from the time consent is signed until 2 months after treatment discontinuation. 4. Females of childbearing potential must have a negative pregnancy test within 7 days prior to randomisation. NOTE: Subjects are considered not of child bearing potential if they are surgically sterile (i.e. they have undergone a hysterectomy, bilateral tubal ligation, or bilateral oophorectomy) or they are postmenopausal. 5. A self-reported ≤5 % variation in body weight over preceding 3 months. 6. Fluent in English and able to understand and complete questionnaires. 7. Participants capable to provide written informed consent and comply with the trial protocol. Exclusion Criteria: 1. Bariatric surgical procedure other than GB and SG, or revision bariatric surgery of any operation type. 2. Personal history of type I diabetes or type II diabetes mellitus currently treated with insulin. 3. Concomitant use of GLP-1R agonist or DPPIV-inhibitors. 4. Female who is pregnant, breast-feeding, or intends to become pregnant. 5. Current participation in other clinical intervention trial. 6. History of suicidal attempt in the previous 5 years or untreated severe depression or mental health condition assessed by direct questioning. 7. Symptomatic gallstone disease 8. Uncontrolled hypertension (systolic blood pressure ≥ 160 mmHg or diastolic blood pressure ≥ 100 mmHg). 9. Renal impairment measured as glomerular infiltration rate (eGFR \<15 ml/min 1.73 m2 10. Known or suspected hypersensitivity to semaglutide or any of the excipients involved in their formulation. 11. Personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma or multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2. 12. History of malignant neoplasms within the past 5 years prior to screening. Basal and squamous cell skin cancer and any carcinoma in-situ are allowed. 13. Personal history of acute pancreatitis 180 days before screening or chronic pancreatitis. 14. Uncontrolled thyroid disease. 15. History of stroke, unstable angina, acute coronary syndrome, congestive heart failure New York Heart Association class III-IV within the preceding 12 months. 16. Untreated clinically significant arrhythmias. 17. Diabetic gastroparesis. 18. Concomitant usage of medications that cause weight gain or weight loss. 19. Known or suspected abuse of alcohol or recreational drugs. 20. Severe hepatic impairment diagnosed via liver function blood tests and clinical evaluation 21. Any additional factor, which in the investigator's opinion, might jeopardise the subject's safety or compliance with the trial protocol.

Published papers

Papers from BARI-STEP

Trial averages do not predict what one person will experience. Results are shown as the registry posts them, without interpretation.

GLPcompare is an informational data platform, not a medical provider or pharmacy. Nothing here is medical advice, a diagnosis, or a recommendation to start, stop, or change any treatment. Data is aggregated from public sources and can be incomplete or out of date. Always confirm with a licensed clinician and the current FDA label.