A new weight loss drug developed by Amgen may provide better results with fewer injections than current treatments such as Ozempic and Wegovy, according to the results of a recent trial.
Trial participants who were obese or overweight lost an average of 20 percent of their body weight in 12 months without their weight loss plateauing, indicating that more weight could be lost if they stayed on the treatment, MariTide, for longer.
Those who took MariTide for type 2 diabetes, too, experienced an average weight loss of 17 percent in the same timeframe—still better than the 15 percent that was shown to be possible on Wegovy, which in turn produced more weight loss than Ozempic—and improved their blood sugar markers.
MariTide was administered monthly or less frequently, whereas current weight loss drugs are usually taken every week.
"Given MariTide's unique, differentiated and competitive profile, we see this as a potentially best-in-class treatment option for patients," a spokesperson for Amgen told Newsweek.
Many of the criticisms levied towards weight loss drugs such as Wegovy concern its side effects, which can include vomiting, nausea, diarrhea and more. Trials have shown that patients may struggle to stay on the drug for long periods because of this.
However, individuals taking MariTide reported far fewer of these side effects; only 11 percent chose to stop taking the drug before the trial was over, and less than 8 percent did so due to digestive side effects.
For those who did experience nausea and vomiting, this was generally short-lived and happened soon after being injected, especially with their first dose.
"We observed very low discontinuation rates in this trial," said the Amgen spokesperson. "In addition, more than 90 percent of eligible patients elected to continue into part two of the study for another year of therapy."
The second part of this Phase 2 MariTide trial is currently underway, and before it makes it onto the market, there will be a Phase 3 trial.
Most of the weight loss drugs currently on the market are glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists, which mimic the fullness hormone GLP-1 to lower blood sugars, reduce appetite, slow digestion and encourage weight loss.
MariTide also contains glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide receptor (GIPR) antagonists, which are engineered to block the receptors of a hormone called GIP, affecting blood sugars, fat storage and appetite.
Amgen paired GLP-1 receptor agonists with GIPR antagonists, binding them together with short chains of amino acids (protein fragments).
"Both human genetic data and animal data suggest that GIPR antagonism is associated with weight loss," said the Angem spokesperson. "Preclinical data suggest that there is a synergism in weight loss efficacy by combining a GLP-1R agonist and GIPR antagonist."
Dr. Naveed Sattar, a medical researcher and professor of metabolic medicine at the University of Glasgow, Scotland, said the results were "highly encouraging."
"If Phase 3 results show similar gains and continued safety, MariTide, a drug with less frequent dosing requirements than current options, could be a very significant new treatment for people living with obesity and diabetes," Sattar said in a statement. "The more such treatment we have, the better for healthcare in general."
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