Weight-loss drug study
Recent studies highlight promising advancements in weight-loss drugs like CagriSema, alongside concerns about weight regain after discontinuation.
CagriSema, combining semaglutide and cagrilintide, achieved an average 20.4% body weight loss over 68 weeks in a Phase 3 trial with over 3,400 obese adults without diabetes. Completers saw up to 22.7% loss, far surpassing placebo’s 3%, with gastrointestinal side effects mostly mild. This positions it as a potential breakthrough for obesity treatment.
Pipeline drugs like VK2735 (up to 15% loss in Phase 2), MariTide (20% over a year), and oral options such as aleniglipron (11-15%) show strong early data. These target GLP-1 pathways or novel mechanisms, advancing beyond approved options like semaglutide.
A BMJ analysis of 37 studies found faster regain after stopping GLP-1 drugs (0.88 pounds/month) versus behavioral programs. Heart health markers worsened post-cessation in some cases. Long-term strategies combining drugs with lifestyle changes remain essential.
