Novo Nordisk reports 22% weight loss with amycretin
Novo Nordisk has reported weight loss effects of up to 22% in patients who received a weekly subcutaneous dose of its next-generation weight loss drug, amycretin, over the course of 36 weeks. These topline results show early potential for the drug candidate to surpass the efficacy of Eli Lilly’s Zepbound (tirzepatide), one of its major competitors in the weight loss drug market.
Drug improves on semaglutide
With amycretin, Novo Nordisk expects to improve on the efficacy of its blockbuster drug semaglutide, sold under the brand names Ozempic and Wegovy.
Semaglutide is a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist, a class of drugs that have rapidly gained in popularity in recent years due to their significant weight loss effects. In comparison, amycretin is a long-acting next-generation drug candidate designed to achieve higher weight loss results by targeting both the GLP-1 and amylin receptors.
Trial results reveal promising weight loss
The results of the phase 1b/2a showed an estimated weight loss of 9.7% after 20 weeks for patients treated with a 1.25mg dose, 16.2% after 28 weeks for those who received a 5mg dose, and 22% after 36 weeks for the highest dose, 20mg. The data represents the effects of the treatment if all people adhered to the planned dosing schedule, without any treatment discontinuations.
“We are very encouraged by the subcutaneous phase 1b/2a results for amycretin in people living with overweight or obesity,” stated Martin Lange, executive vice president for development at Novo Nordisk. “The results seen in the trial support the weight lowering potential of this novel unimolecular GLP-1 and amylin receptor agonist, amycretin, that we have previously seen with the oral formulation.”
Amycretin versus Zepbound
The weight loss results achieved by amycretin in this study show potential for the drug to compete with Eli Lilly’s Zepbound, which has been previously reported to reach 21% weight loss in the same period of 36 weeks. However, further clinical studies will be required to study the effects of the drug in longer time periods, as Zepbound can increase its efficacy to 26% weight loss when administered for 88 weeks.
Novo Nordisk has yet to release more detailed results from the phase 1b/2a trial, including weight loss data for participants who did not stay on treatment for the full 36-week period, as well as a full report on the drug candidate’s observed side effects. The company is currently “planning further clinical development of amycretin in adults with overweight or obesity,” but no further details have been released yet.