October 24, 2024, 11:29 am | Read time: 4 minutes
Medications containing the active ingredient semaglutide, such as Ozempic, Wegovy, and others, are actually used to treat obesity and/or diabetes. In recent years, however, there has been a trend toward diverting these drugs from their intended purpose and using them primarily for weight loss – even if obesity is not already present. However, these “weight loss injections” could soon be replaced by another active ingredient.
Celebrities, in particular, seem to be very interested in getting rid of excess pounds with the help of medications containing the active ingredient semaglutide. Despite all the side effects, the use of Ozempic, Wegovy, and co. promises a quick weight loss effect without much effort. However, researchers are now of the opinion that another active ingredient could soon be on the rise. This is the so-called amycretin they presented at the annual meeting of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) in Madrid.
Overview of
Amycretin curbs the appetite
Researchers from the pharmaceutical manufacturer Novo Nordisk – which also produces Ozempic and Wegovy with semaglutide – opted for amycretin because of its influence on appetite. It acts on two key hormones responsible for regulating appetite and the feeling of hunger. “A single molecule targeting both amylin and GLP-1 biology may offer a more convenient approach to achieve better outcomes for people who are overweight or obese,” the scientists explain when presenting their study.1
Amycretin, unlike Ozempic and Wegovy, has the advantage of being easy to use. It can be taken daily as a small tablet. This eliminates the inconvenient and often unpleasant injection of the medication.
Study achieves clear results after 12 weeks
For the studies, the scientists recruited people whose body mass index (BMI) was between 25.0 and 39.9. This is classified as overweight. A further requirement was that the participants did not have diabetes. This way, the researchers could focus exclusively on the effect of amycretin on weight reduction. Based on these requirements, 124 participants were recruited for the Phase I study.
Initially, some of the test subjects were slowly introduced to taking the drug, while the rest were given a placebo for the entire study period. Initially, a phase with an increasing dose of one to 25 milligrams occurred. This was followed by a ten-day phase with an increase of three to twelve milligrams. This was followed by a twelve-week phase in which the participants were divided into two different groups that differed in terms of the daily dosage of amycretin:
- Group 1: daily dose of 50 milligrams
- Group 2: daily dose of twice 50 milligrams
The researchers monitored weight, side effects, and the concentration of the drug in the blood for the entire duration of the treatment. The scientists observed significant weight loss in groups one and two. Those taking the lower daily dose lost an average of 10.4 percent of their body weight. In group two, even higher values were observed. The participants taking twice the daily dose lost an average of 13.1 percent. In contrast, hardly any effect was observed within the placebo group.
To understand the significance of this, the effect of the Wegovy administration should be mentioned here. Participants lost an average of six percent of their body weight after twelve weeks. Only after 68 weeks did test subjects who were administered Wegovy record a weight loss of 15 percent.
Mild to moderate side effects
“What we see over the study period is a weight loss of 13.1 percent with a side effect profile comparable to what we normally see with incretin-based therapies, i.e., primarily gastrointestinal side effects,” says Martin Holst Lange, Head of Development at Novo Nordisk.
While taking amycretin, 242 reports of mild and moderate side effects were recorded. The most common were gastrointestinal complaints such as nausea, vomiting, and greatly reduced appetite. These side effects occurred particularly in participants who took a higher dose. However, it was also observed that a gradual increase in the dose contributed to increased tolerability.
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Limitations of the study
Even if the results sound promising, it has not yet been clearly proven whether amycretin can reduce weight. This is because the study is only in the first phase. Further clinical studies are therefore required, ideally involving a larger study cohort lasting longer than twelve weeks.
Furthermore, it is not yet clear from previous studies how amycretin works long-term. Although no plateau effect (cessation of the effect) was observed during the twelve-week phase, it is impossible to predict whether this could occur with longer-term use. In addition, it should be investigated in the future how discontinuation of the drug affects weight.
Also important is that the Danish pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk financed and conducted the study. Even if the results show that amycretin is a potential drug for weight loss, it should be noted that conflicts of interest may arise from the funding, e.g., due to economic factors.