Results from a Phase 1 clinical trial including a daily weight reduction tablet from Novo Nordisk showed that the medication might reduce body weight by as much as 13% after three months. The results were presented on Tuesday at the annual conference of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes in Spain.
Compared to other medications, the experimental tablet known as amycretin seems to cause weight reduction more quickly.
Dr. Christopher McGowan, a gastroenterologist who manages a weight reduction clinic in North Carolina, stated that it is “approaching procedural or surgical-level outcomes” and that the weight loss rate is around double that of existing GLP-1 agonists. “It exhibits promising potential.”
The results seemed outstanding, according to Dr. Susan Spratt, an endocrinologist and senior medical director of Duke Health’s Population Health Management Office.
“How could they achieve weight loss that quickly?” Spratt enquired. “It’s almost like a miracle pill.”
The results are preliminary; additional investigation is required, especially over a longer time frame. Moreover, since the medication was not put through a head-to-head study, it cannot be directly contrasted with other weight reduction medications. Additionally, the findings have not been released in a peer-reviewed publication.
Amycretin functions similarly to semaglutide, the medication included in Wegovy and Ozempic, according to a statement from Novo Nordisk’s executive vice president and head of development, Martin Lange. It is a GLP-1 agonist, which functions by imitating a hormone that decreases hunger and food consumption. Nevertheless, it also mimics amylin, another hormone that can potentially help with fullness perception.
The findings on Tuesday came from a Phase 1 clinical trial in which persons with obesity or excess weight received amycetin or a placebo every day for a maximum of 12 weeks. Additionally, the medicine was tested at various dosages, with some subjects’ dose levels being gradually increased by the researchers.
A Phase 1 trial’s objective is to examine a novel medication’s safety, including figuring out which dosages are most effective for individual patients. Subsequent studies concentrate on the drug’s efficacy.
Nevertheless, those who received the medication for weight loss did see weight loss: Those receiving the highest dosage lost an average of 13.1% of their body weight after 12 weeks, whereas those taking a placebo lost an average of 1.1% of their body weight.
According to Novo Nordisk, the medication seemed safe and had adverse effects that were comparable to those of Wegovy and Ozempic. Those medications frequently cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and stomach discomfort as adverse effects.
In those with Type 2 diabetes, the pharmaceutical has begun a Phase 2 study, according to Lange.
What amount of weight loss is excessive?
Even though there was a noticeable weight loss, McGowan expressed worry about how quickly the weight was dropped.
“Losing weight is obviously the ultimate goal, but there are factors to consider when doing so,” he stated. “The likelihood that patients will maintain their weight and preserve lean mass is significantly higher when they lose weight in a healthy, sustainable manner.”
In order to get further understanding, he said that he was interested in learning more specifics on the adverse effects that patients had while using the tablet.
“Did patients lose weight faster because they were ill or because they were less hungry?” stated McGowan.
Spratt expressed her curiosity on the proportion of weight loss attributed to fat as opposed to muscle.
According to her, “muscle actually helps you metabolize glucose,” which is the body’s main energy source. “Physicians worry about [losing] muscle mass, especially in their elderly patients.”
She also wanted to know about the trial’s dropout rates, which would probably be disclosed if the findings were published in a journal.
