Early Study Shows Weight Loss Pill Amycretin May Lead to Significant Results Compared to Ozempic
The daily pill comes from the same manufacturer as Ozempic and Wegovy
The future of oral weight loss medication looks bright. Drug manufacturer Novo Nordisk announced a new experimental weight-loss pill to treat obesity in development called amycretin. And it may boast substantial weight loss results comparable to those of popular GLP-1 injectables like Ozempic and Wegovy (both of which were created by the same company). While clinical trials are still in the very early stages, the daily weight loss pill seems promising so far. Here’s what we know so far.
Early clinical trials show significant weight loss with amycretin
Novo Nordisk released data from the trial suggesting that amycretin, a combination agonist of GLP-1 and amylin (a hormone which helps regulate blood sugar), was associated with a lower body weight after 12 weeks.
Researchers presented the results at the 60th annual meeting of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) earlier this month in Madrid, Spain.
Participants in this first-in-human study using the drug had a BMI of 25-39.9 and no diabetes. They were randomized to receive once-daily oral amycretin or placebo. After three months, those taking amycretin lost 13.1 percent of their body weight after 12 weeks, which was considered significantly greater than that of the placebo group.
The additional goal of this study was to examine safety and tolerability of amycretin. Adverse events amongst those taking the pill were considered mild to moderate, say researchers. Like many other GLP-1s, side effects were related to gastrointestinal discomforts including nausea, vomiting and decreased appetite. Symptoms were considered to be in an acceptable safety and tolerability range, the study found.
Experts respond to potential new weight loss drug amycretin
While these findings are very much preliminary and necessary protocols will likely take several years to complete, we checked in with our experts for their initial thoughts on the potential of amycretin.
“If proven safe and effective, amycretin could help obese patients lose a meaningful amount of weight when combined with lifestyle changes,” says Sazan Sylejmani, PharmD, Owner and Pharmacy Manager of Westmont Pharmacy. “However, much more research is needed before it becomes available.”
Further testing and FDA approval will be required to determine if the benefits of amycretin outweigh the risks, he explains. While an oral medication may have some advantages over injections in terms of convenience and cost, efficacy and long-term effects are the most important factors when it comes to recommending a weight loss drug, he says.
“Given the current data, amycretin may affect the mechanism of the gut-brain axis and has an impact on hunger-regulating peptides such as GLP-1,” offers Michael Lahey, MD, weight loss physician with My Weight Loss Partner. “It may work like other drugs such as semaglutide to decrease hunger, enhance feelings of satiety and [improve] glycemic control, all of which help with shedding pounds.”
How soon will amycretin for weight loss be available?
Several critical steps are necessary before amycretin can be made available for clinical use, says Dr. Lahey:
- Larger clinical trials: Amycretin is set to undergo Phase II and Phase III trials to evaluate its efficacy, safety and side effects. Such trials have to also encompass the targeted groups to ensure that the medication proves useful for everyone with the disease, he explains.
- Regulatory review: Upon the end of the clinical trials, the information will be presented to the necessary committees such as the FDA. These administrations will draw out a risk-benefit ratio and sum up any side effects that were recorded during the trials, he adds.
- Manufacturing and distribution: If amycretin passes clinical trials, there will be calls to increase the production quantity and efficiently organize the delivery of products to the consumer, says Dr. Lahey. Healthcare providers will then need to familiarize themselves with the new prescription.
The difference between the amycretin pill and Ozempic injectables
“The distinction between an oral and injectable weight loss pill extends beyond the matter of convenience to bioavailability as well,” adds Dr. Lahey. “The operation of the injections is much better seen with the GLP-1 agonists, which have a rather consistent absorption since they do not pass through the gastrointestinal tract. Orally administered medications, however, have to go through the gastrointestinal tract and the rate and degree of which food consumption may alter its rate of absorption and efficacy.”
However, patients often prefer oral pills over injections, which could lead to better compliance, he notes. So, if amycretin is ultimately proven to perform as well as injectable drugs, it may see a major benefit in terms of patient cooperation.
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