An experimental Novo Nordisk weight problems capsule led to weight lack of 13.1% in a scientific trial, topping outcomes posted in research of the corporate’s authorised injectable treatment Wegovy. It’s early days and extra testing is required, however the preliminary information counsel that this capsule has the potential to supply sufferers superior weight shedding in a extra handy oral formulation.
Section 1 information for the once-daily Novo Nordisk capsule, amycretin, have been introduced Thursday throughout an organization investor occasion. The research adopted contributors for 12 weeks. In that span, those that obtained a placebo misplaced 1.1% of their physique weight. Wegovy, which is run as a once-weekly injection, was not a part of this scientific trial. Revealed scientific trial outcomes for that drug present it led to weight lack of 5.9% measured at 12 weeks.
Wegovy, whose important ingredient is the peptide semaglutide, presents one mechanism of motion: activating the GLP-1 receptor to spark blood sugar and urge for food management results. Amycretin is a single molecule that works in two methods. Along with binding to the GLP-1 receptor, it targets and prompts the amylin receptor, which additionally performs a task in blood sugar management and urge for food regulation. Peptide medicine are often injectable. However Novo Nordisk makes amycretin with the identical expertise utilized in its oral formulation of semaglutide, a kind 2 diabetes capsule marketed as Rybelsus.
Novo Nordisk mentioned oral amycretin was secure and properly tolerated in its Section 1 research, exhibiting hostile results in line with earlier exams of GLP-1 medicine in addition to exams of an injectable model of amycretin. These unwanted effects embody nausea and vomiting, which is in line with different weight problems drugs.
There are some caveats for Novo Nordisk’s amycretin replace. The preliminary information reported Thursday are from a Section 1 research with solely 16 contributors. The magnitude of weight reduction might change because the drug is examined for an extended time frame in a bigger group of individuals. Novo Nordisk mentioned the subsequent steps for amycretin embody additional scientific growth.
Novo Nordisk has had a troublesome time manufacturing sufficient Wegovy to maintain up with demand. The product is a blockbuster vendor, accounting for 31.3 billion Danish krone (about $4.6 billion) in income in 2023, based on firm monetary experiences. The overwhelming majority of these gross sales have been within the U.S. Novo Nordisk is supplementing its capacity to satisfy demand by including manufacturing capability. Along with investments in its personal manufacturing capability, it’s also buying manufacturing amenities from contract producer Catalent.
The early amycretin information preserve Novo Nordisk in competition with different firms creating oral alternate options to injectable metabolic medicines. Eli Lilly has reached Section 3 testing with orforglipron, a small molecule designed to focus on and activate the GLP-1 receptor. Pfizer’s oral GLP-1 agonist, danuglipron, achieved weight discount starting from 8% to 13% in a mid-stage scientific trial. However that twice-daily drug additionally had excessive discontinuation charges within the research. Final December, Pfizer mentioned it could not advance this drug to Section 3 testing. As an alternative, the corporate is specializing in a creating once-daily formulation, which is predicted to have preliminary human information within the first half of this yr.
Smaller biotech firms are additionally within the combine with weight problems drug candidates. Construction Therapeutics’ oral small molecule GLP-1 agonist, GSBR-1290, is at present being evaluated in a Section 2 scientific trial with diabetes and weight problems cohorts. Viking Therapeutics is creating a drug that targets each the GLP-1 and GIP receptors, which is similar mechanism because the FDA-approved Eli Lilly weight administration drug Zepbound. Final week, Viking reported Section 2 outcomes exhibiting its injectable drug led to higher weight reduction than Zepbound. Viking can also be creating an oral model of this drug. Section 1 information are anticipated by the top of this month.
Photograph: Jean-Francois Monier/AFP, through Getty Photos
