One of Novo Nordisk's next-generation obesity treatments helped patients lose 22% of their weight in 36 weeks, according to early-stage trial results. The weight loss, compared to a decline of 2% in the placebo group, was observed in overweight or obese trial participants receiving weekly injections of the drug candidate amycretin. The company is also testing amycretin in pill form.

Like Wegovy, amycretin mimics the gut hormone GLP-1, but it also mimics the effect of a hunger-suppressing pancreatic hormone called amylin. This dual mechanism of action is being explored for its potential to enhance weight loss outcomes.

Novo faces competition from Zepbound-maker Eli Lilly in the development of obesity treatments. Over the longer term, Novo's Wegovy business may face challenges from Zepbound, also known as Mounjaro, which has demonstrated greater efficacy in direct comparisons.

These results may indicate potential for amycretin in future obesity treatment options. Earlier last year, a daily-pill version of amycretin was shown to lead to 13.1% weight loss after 12 weeks. Novo has stated that the results from the injectable version do not account for interruptions or discontinuations in treatment, and further studies are planned.

As is standard in early-stage trials, the primary goal was to assess safety. Novo noted that side effects were consistent with those observed in widely-used GLP-1 therapies, with gastrointestinal symptoms being the most common and generally mild to moderate in severity.

Injected amycretin showed promising results in early-stage trials, with efficacy comparisons suggesting it could compete with existing treatments. For instance, a Lilly-sponsored trial found that Zepbound led to a 20.2% average weight loss after 72 weeks, compared to 13.7% for Wegovy. Similarly, Novo’s CagriSema drug, another dual-action treatment, led to 22.7% weight loss after 68 weeks in December, though this was below expectations.

Amycretin’s single-molecule dual mechanism (GLP-1 and amylin) may offer an advantage over more complex peptide combinations like CagriSema. Other companies, including AstraZeneca and Zealand Pharma, are also investigating amylin-based therapies, which are believed to better preserve lean mass compared to GLP-1 drugs alone.