A new investigational medication known as amycretin has shown significant potential in promoting weight loss, according to results from two early-stage clinical trials.
By simultaneously activating both GLP-1 and amylin receptors, the drug aims to regulate appetite and blood sugar levels more effectively than current single-target treatments.
Participants in the studies experienced notable weight reductions: up to 24.3% loss after 36 weeks of weekly injections, and 13.1% after 12 weeks of daily oral doses.
However, these benefits came with a downside — many individuals experienced gastrointestinal issues such as nausea, reduced appetite, and vomiting. These effects were usually rated as mild to moderate and tended to improve over time.
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In the second study, researchers evaluated the safety of daily oral doses of amycretin in 144 individuals with overweight or obesity.
Those taking the highest dosage (100 mg daily) saw an average body weight decrease of 13.1% within three months. The findings confirmed the drug’s tolerability, despite the common occurrence of digestive discomfort.
The first study, which examined once-weekly injections in 125 participants, reported even more substantial weight loss— up to 24.3% —among those receiving the largest doses.
Some improvement in blood sugar regulation was also noted, though more extensive research is needed to determine the drug’s long-term impact on diabetes.
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These initial results suggest that amycretin, whether taken orally or through injection, could emerge as a valuable new option for treating obesity, excess weight, and potentially type 2 diabetes.
Still, experts emphasise that broader clinical trials are essential to verify these early findings and ensure the drug’s safety and efficacy over the long term.
In an accompanying commentary, obesity researchers Professor Tricia Tan and Dr. Bernard Khoo, who were not involved in the trials, stressed the importance of evaluating whether weight-loss treatments like amycretin also lower the risk of other obesity-related conditions, such as heart disease.
Read the study in the journal The Lancet.
