Altimmune Claims Superior Lean Mass Results for Weight Loss Therapy

Altimmune is making waves in the biotech industry with its phase 2 trial results for pemvidutide, a GLP-1/glucagon dual receptor agonist designed to combat obesity. Pemvidutide is currently being tested for obesity and other conditions. The small biotech has positioned itself against major competitors like Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly, who have a significant head start in the obesity market.

The newly analyzed data from a subgroup of 50 patients is particularly promising. According to Altimmune, only 21.9% of the weight loss in these patients was from lean mass, while a substantial 78.1% was from fat loss at the 48-week mark. This is noteworthy when compared to Wegovy, which has been associated with a lean mass loss of up to 40% over 68 weeks. Altimmune’s CEO, Vipin Garg, Ph.D., labelled this performance as “best-in-class” during a presentation at the American Diabetes Association’s 84th Scientific Sessions. Garg emphasized that the preservation of lean mass, primarily muscle tissue, is crucial for maintaining healthy weight loss and physical functionality. This muscle preservation further differentiates pemvidutide from other weight loss drugs.

The study involved 391 participants who were either obese or overweight with at least one co-morbidity, excluding diabetes. They were administered one of three doses or a placebo weekly for 48 weeks, alongside a diet and exercise regimen. The weight loss outcomes were 10.3%, 11.2%, 15.6%, and 2.2% for the 1.2 mg, 1.8 mg, 2.4 mg doses, and placebo respectively. These figures were initially reported in November 2023.

In addition to weight loss, the study also assessed body composition through full MRI body scans of 50 patients. This analysis revealed the proportion of lean mass to fat loss. Beyond weight loss, pemvidutide showed additional health benefits by lowering serum lipids and improving blood pressure, with no significant increase in heart rate or incidents of cardiac events or arrhythmias.

These findings are central to Altimmune’s strategy to catch up with industry giants Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly in the competitive obesity market. At the American Diabetes Association meeting, Altimmune also presented phase 1 data for pemvidutide in overweight or obese patients who do not have type 2 diabetes. The purpose of this trial was to assess the drug’s impact on cardioinflammatory lipids, which are known to increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases.

After a duration of 12 weeks, the patients exhibited serum lipid reductions of 28%, 26%, and 38% across the 1.2 mg, 1.8 mg, and 2.4 mg doses respectively. These reductions were not directly linked to weight loss, suggesting that pemvidutide impacts lipid metabolism independently. Specifically, the drug significantly reduced small dense LDL-C, short-chain diglycerides with higher saturation, lysophosphatidylinositols, lysophosphatidylcholines, and sphingolipids—all of which are associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease.

“These data add to the differentiated profile of pemvidutide and reinforce its potential to reduce inflammatory lipids associated with cardiovascular plaque formation and cardiovascular risk in patients with obesity,” stated Garg in a release about the lipid data. This comprehensive set of findings solidifies pemvidutide’s potential as a significant player in the treatment of obesity, further enhancing its profile in an already competitive market.