Novo's oral amycretin shows potential for extended weight loss beyond 12 weeks in early trial

Novo Nordisk has revealed promising data for its oral amycretin, showing significant weight loss among participants in an early-stage trial. The Danish pharmaceutical company first hinted at these findings in March, where initial results indicated a 13.1% reduction in body weight among study participants. The detailed results were presented at the annual meeting of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD).

In the study, participants taking the highest dose—two 50 mg pills daily—experienced a 13.1% reduction in body weight over a period of 12 weeks. This is in stark contrast to the 1.1% weight loss observed in the placebo group. Additionally, subjects on a single 50 mg dose saw a 10.4% weight reduction over the same period of roughly three months.

Researchers noted the absence of a weight loss plateau, suggesting that extended treatment could lead to even greater weight reductions. Larger and more prolonged studies are now being planned to explore this potential further. The majority of adverse events reported were gastrointestinal, including nausea, vomiting, and a decreased appetite, and were generally mild to moderate in severity.

Jefferies analysts noted that medical experts at the EASD meeting showed increasing enthusiasm for amylin, both as a combination therapy and as a standalone treatment. There is a growing interest in alternative, non-GLP-1 approaches, particularly for patients who do not respond effectively to existing therapies.

Novo Nordisk is not alone in the oral weight loss market. Competitors such as Eli Lilly and Viking Therapeutics are also developing oral treatments. Eli Lilly is working on a GLP-1 agonist called orforglipron, while Viking Therapeutics is developing an oral GLP-1/GIP dual agonist.

This new data positions Novo Nordisk's amycretin as a strong contender in the burgeoning field of oral weight loss treatments. The company's next steps will likely be crucial in determining the drug's future, including forthcoming larger and longer-term studies to validate the initial promising results.

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