Weight-loss drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy have been a hot topic for some time, but is there a better contender? Perhaps, according to new research. Meet Amycretin, the new weight-loss therapeutic that takes the form of a pill, rather than an injection.
In the first human trial of the new weight-loss pill, its creator Novo Nordisk A/S (the pharmaceutical company behind Ozempic) found the results to be promising. In fact, the trial found that individuals taking Amycretin lost an average of 13.1 per cent of their body weight over a period of 12 weeks.
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So how does this new weight-loss tablet work? Well, Amycretin is a kind of two-for-one deal, mimicking the actions of two hormones involved in weight loss. These hormones are called amylin and glucagon-like peptide (known as GLP-1), both of which help to decrease hunger sensations and control appetite.
Published in the journal Diabetologia, the study compared average weight loss across three groups of individuals. All those taking part in the trial had a body mass index (BMI) between 25 and 39.9 and did not have diabetes.
At the end of the 12-week period, scientists found that individuals taking a pill containing a double shot of 50mg of Amycretin lost 13.1 per cent of their body weight, whilst those taking a single 50mg pill lost 10.4 per cent. In comparison, individuals who took a daily placebo only lost an average of 1.1 per cent of their body weight across the trial period.
Compared with other weight-loss drugs, a recent study published in JAMA Internal Medicine found that patients of another weight-loss drug, Mounjaro, lost 5.9 per cent body fat across three months, while Ozempic patients lost 3.6 per cent.
“Firstly, the difference from injectable options is notable," obesity expert Christoffer Clemmensen, associate professor at the University of Copenhagen who was not involved in the study, told BBC Science Focus.
"Secondly, the dual mode of action adds another layer of promise. Novo Nordisk has perhaps been lagging behind when it comes to developing competitive multi-acting single molecules, but Amycretin appears to be a very promising advancement.”
Weight-loss drugs have the potential to reduce rates of obesity across the globe. However, scientists say only larger trials will confirm these results in people who have long-term illnesses. Prof Naveed Sattar, who was also not involved in the study, said:
“The more medicines coming forward to treat obesity, the better as this gives more chance to find safe and efficacious medicines, especially tablets that could be more easily available (and cheaper) for the many millions around the world struggling with obesity and its complications.
"This early phase research on a new oral combination is exciting given the speed of weight loss seen.”
About our expert
Associate Professor Christoffer Clemmensen leads the Clemmensen Group within the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences at the University of Copenhagen, which studies the biological regulation of body weight and aims to develop new therapeutic strategies that can correct obesity. His research has been widely recognised, with publications in leading academic journals such as Nature Metabolism and Molecular Metabolism.
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