Altimmune Shares Phase 2 MOMENTUM Trial Data on Pemvidutide in Obesity at ADA's 84th Scientific Sessions

Altimmune, Inc. (Nasdaq: ALT), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, recently revealed data from its 48-week Phase 2 MOMENTUM clinical trial for pemvidutide, a GLP-1/glucagon dual receptor agonist aimed at treating obesity. The data was presented at the American Diabetes Association’s (ADA) 84th Scientific Sessions and included a comprehensive body composition analysis.

According to Vipin K. Garg, Ph.D., President and CEO of Altimmune, the trial results are promising, particularly in terms of lean mass preservation. Pemvidutide showed that only 21.9% of weight loss was due to lean mass, significantly lower than the figures reported for other weight loss treatments, where lean mass loss can be as high as 40%. Preserving lean mass, which is primarily muscle tissue, is crucial for maintaining healthy weight loss and physical function. The trial's findings highlight pemvidutide’s potential in distinguishing itself as a superior treatment for obesity.

The trial involved 391 participants who were either obese or overweight with at least one co-morbidity and no diabetes. Participants were randomized into four groups: 1.2 mg, 1.8 mg, 2.4 mg doses of pemvidutide, or a placebo, administered weekly for 48 weeks alongside a diet and exercise regimen. The body composition of a subgroup of these participants was analyzed.

At the 48-week mark, the study found that participants receiving pemvidutide experienced significant weight loss. The average weight reductions were 10.3% for the 1.2 mg dose, 11.2% for the 1.8 mg dose, and 15.6% for the 2.4 mg dose, compared to just 2.2% for the placebo group. Notably, the 2.4 mg dose group continued to lose weight nearly linearly at the end of the treatment period. A full MRI-based body composition analysis included 50 subjects on pemvidutide and revealed that 78.1% of weight loss was due to fat. Additionally, pemvidutide contributed to substantial reductions in serum lipids and improvements in blood pressure, without causing imbalances in cardiac events or clinically meaningful increases in heart rate.

Louis Aronne, M.D., Director of the Comprehensive Weight Control Center at Weill Cornell Medicine and a scientific advisor to Altimmune, emphasized the significance of these findings. He noted that the data not only showcased substantial weight loss but also highlighted an impressive ability to preserve lean mass. Given pemvidutide’s favorable safety profile and potential to improve other obesity-related conditions such as dyslipidemia and hypertension, the drug could serve as a promising long-term treatment for various segments of the obese patient population.

Pemvidutide is a novel, investigational peptide-based GLP-1/glucagon dual receptor agonist targeting obesity and MASH (Metabolic Associated Steatohepatitis). The activation of GLP-1 and glucagon receptors is believed to replicate the complementary effects of diet and exercise on weight loss, with GLP-1 suppressing appetite and glucagon increasing energy expenditure. Glucagon is also known to affect hepatic fat metabolism directly, leading to rapid reductions in liver fat and serum lipids. Clinical trials have shown that once-weekly pemvidutide results in notable weight loss and reductions in triglycerides, LDL cholesterol, liver fat content, and blood pressure. The U.S. FDA has granted Fast Track designation to pemvidutide for the treatment of MASH. The drug recently completed the MOMENTUM Phase 2 obesity trial and is currently under study in the ongoing IMPACT Phase 2b MASH trial.

Altimmune is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing innovative next-generation peptide-based therapeutics. The company's primary focus is on advancing pemvidutide as a treatment for obesity and MASH.