(Source-nbcnews.com)
Novo Nordisk, the maker of popular weight-loss drugs Wegovy and Ozempic, has announced that its experimental weight-loss pill, amycretin, has shown promising results in an early-stage trial. According to the Danish pharmaceutical company, the pill was both safe and tolerable for participants, with only mild to moderate side effects reported. In the Phase I trial, patients experienced an average weight loss of up to 13.1% over 12 weeks, which has sparked excitement in the industry.
This result compares favorably to Wegovy’s 6% weight loss after 12 weeks and 15% after 68 weeks, prompting Novo Nordisk’s shares to rise by 2.4% following the news.
Mild Gastrointestinal Side Effects
The study, presented at the European Association for the Study of Diabetes in Madrid, involved 60 participants and showed that amycretin had a side effect profile similar to other incretin-based therapies. The most common side effects were related to gastrointestinal discomfort, including nausea and vomiting. One serious but non-fatal adverse event was reported, but no severe side effects were observed.
Amycretin works by targeting both the GLP-1 gut hormone, which is also mimicked by Wegovy, and the pancreas hormone amylin, which affects hunger. These combined effects are expected to make Weight-Loss Pill Amycretin a highly effective treatment for obesity.
Potential for Future Weight-Loss Therapies
Novo Nordisk is also developing another drug combination, CagriSema, which targets the amylin hormone and has shown potential for weight loss of up to 25%. According to Martin Holst Lange, Novo’s head of development, the early data suggests that amycretin could offer weight loss results at least comparable to CagriSema.
The Weight-Loss Pill Amycretin trial used a dose range starting from 3 milligrams and going up to two 50 mg pills. Patients on the highest dose lost 13.1% of their body weight, while those on a placebo lost only 1.1%. Notably, the weight loss in the trial did not plateau after 12 weeks, indicating potential for further loss with continued use.
Next Steps and Market Impact of Weight-Loss Pill Amycretin
Novo Nordisk is now considering whether to skip Phase II trials for amycretin and move directly to Phase III trials, which would be the final step before seeking regulatory approval. The company plans to make a decision next year, once data from an early study of a subcutaneous version of the drug is available.
While existing weight-loss drugs like Wegovy and Eli Lilly’s Zepbound are injectables, amycretin’s pill form may appeal to patients despite the higher production costs due to the larger amount of active ingredients required. As demand for obesity treatments continues to rise, Novo and its competitors are racing to increase production of these drugs, with Novo’s stock price reflecting strong investor confidence in its experimental drug pipeline.
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