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Obesity is a major risk factor for many leading causes of illness and death worldwide. Data are needed regarding the efficacy and safety of the nonpeptide glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist orforglipron as a once-daily oral therapy for weight reduction in adults with obesity. In this phase 2, randomized, double-blind trial, we enrolled adults with obesity, or with overweight plus at least one weight-related coexisting condition, and without diabetes. Participants were randomly assigned to receive orforglipron at one of four doses (12, 24, 36, or 45 mg) or placebo once daily for 36 weeks. The percentage change from baseline in body weight was assessed at week 26 (primary end point) and at week 36 (secondary end point). A total of 272 participants underwent randomization. At baseline, the mean body weight was 108.7 kg, and the mean body-mass index (the weight in kilograms divided by the square of the height in meters) was 37.9. At week 26, the mean change from baseline in body weight ranged from -8.6% to -12.6% across the orforglipron dose cohorts and was -2.0% in the placebo group. At week 36, the mean change ranged from -9.4% to -14.7% with orforglipron and was -2.3% with placebo. A weight reduction of at least 10% by week 36 occurred in 46 to 75% of the participants who received orforglipron, as compared with 9% who received placebo. The use of orforglipron led to improvement in all prespecified weight-related and cardiometabolic measures. The most common adverse events reported with orforglipron were gastrointestinal events, which were mild to moderate, occurred primarily during dose escalation, and led to discontinuation of orforglipron in 10 to 17% of participants across dose cohorts. The safety profile of orforglipron was consistent with that of the GLP-1 receptor agonist class. Daily oral orforglipron, a nonpeptide GLP-1 receptor agonist, was associated with weight reduction. Adverse events reported with orforglipron were similar to those with injectable GLP-1 receptor agonists. (Funded by Eli Lilly; GZGI ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT05051579.).

Retatrutide (LY3437943) is an agonist of the glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide, glucagon-like peptide 1, and glucagon receptors. Its dose-response relationships with respect to side effects, safety, and efficacy for the treatment of obesity are not known. We conducted a phase 2, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial involving adults who had a body-mass index (BMI, the weight in kilograms divided by the square of the height in meters) of 30 or higher or who had a BMI of 27 to less than 30 plus at least one weight-related condition. Participants were randomly assigned in a 2:1:1:1:1:2:2 ratio to receive subcutaneous retatrutide (1 mg, 4 mg [initial dose, 2 mg], 4 mg [initial dose, 4 mg], 8 mg [initial dose, 2 mg], 8 mg [initial dose, 4 mg], or 12 mg [initial dose, 2 mg]) or placebo once weekly for 48 weeks. The primary end point was the percentage change in body weight from baseline to 24 weeks. Secondary end points included the percentage change in body weight from baseline to 48 weeks and a weight reduction of 5% or more, 10% or more, or 15% or more. Safety was also assessed. We enrolled 338 adults, 51.8% of whom were men. The least-squares mean percentage change in body weight at 24 weeks in the retatrutide groups was -7.2% in the 1-mg group, -12.9% in the combined 4-mg group, -17.3% in the combined 8-mg group, and -17.5% in the 12-mg group, as compared with -1.6% in the placebo group. At 48 weeks, the least-squares mean percentage change in the retatrutide groups was -8.7% in the 1-mg group, -17.1% in the combined 4-mg group, -22.8% in the combined 8-mg group, and -24.2% in the 12-mg group, as compared with -2.1% in the placebo group. At 48 weeks, a weight reduction of 5% or more, 10% or more, and 15% or more had occurred in 92%, 75%, and 60%, respectively, of the participants who received 4 mg of retatrutide; 100%, 91%, and 75% of those who received 8 mg; 100%, 93%, and 83% of those who received 12 mg; and 27%, 9%, and 2% of those who received placebo. The most common adverse events in the retatrutide groups were gastrointestinal; these events were dose-related, were mostly mild to moderate in severity, and were partially mitigated with a lower starting dose (2 mg vs. 4 mg). Dose-dependent increases in heart rate peaked at 24 weeks and declined thereafter. In adults with obesity, retatrutide treatment for 48 weeks resulted in substantial reductions in body weight. (Funded by Eli Lilly; ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT04881760.).

In this randomized trial, adults with obesity treated with weekly tirzepatide, a glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide and glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist, had major weight loss over 72 weeks.

Background: Obesity is strongly associated with prevalence of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), and weight loss has been shown to reduce disease severity. Objective: To investigate whether liraglutide 3.0 mg reduces OSA severity compared with placebo using the primary end point of change in apnea–hypopnea index (AHI) after 32 weeks. Liraglutide’s weight loss efficacy was also examined. Subjects/Methods: In this randomized, double-blind trial, non-diabetic participants with obesity who had moderate (AHI 15–29.9 events h −1 ) or severe (AHI ⩾30 events h −1 ) OSA and were unwilling/unable to use continuous positive airway pressure therapy were randomized for 32 weeks to liraglutide 3.0 mg ( n =180) or placebo ( n =179), both as adjunct to diet (500 kcal day −1 deficit) and exercise. Baseline characteristics were similar between groups (mean age 48.5 years, males 71.9%, AHI 49.2 events h −1 , severe OSA 67.1%, body weight 117.6 kg, body mass index 39.1 kg m −2 , prediabetes 63.2%, HbA 1c 5.7%). Results: After 32 weeks, the mean reduction in AHI was greater with liraglutide than with placebo (−12.2 vs −6.1 events h −1 , estimated treatment difference: −6.1 events h −1 (95% confidence interval (CI), −11.0 to −1.2), P =0.0150). Liraglutide produced greater mean percentage weight loss compared with placebo (−5.7% vs −1.6%, estimated treatment difference: −4.2% (95% CI, −5.2 to −3.1%), P <0.0001). A statistically significant association between the degree of weight loss and improvement in OSA end points ( P <0.01, all) was demonstrated post hoc . Greater reductions in glycated hemoglobin (HbA 1c ) and systolic blood pressure (SBP) were seen with liraglutide versus placebo (both P <0.001). The safety profile of liraglutide 3.0 mg was similar to that seen with doses ⩽1.8 mg. Conclusions: As an adjunct to diet and exercise, liraglutide 3.0 mg was generally well tolerated and produced significantly greater reductions than placebo in AHI, body weight, SBP and HbA 1c in participants with obesity and moderate/severe OSA. The results confirm that weight loss improves OSA-related parameters.

Glucagon, an essential regulator of glucose homeostasis, also modulates lipid metabolism and promotes weight loss, as reflected by the wasting observed in glucagonoma patients. Recently, coagonist peptides that include glucagon agonism have emerged as promising therapeutic candidates for the treatment of obesity and diabetes. We developed a novel stable and soluble glucagon receptor (GcgR) agonist, which allowed for in vivo dissection of glucagon action. As expected, chronic GcgR agonism in mice resulted in hyperglycemia and lower body fat and plasma cholesterol. Notably, GcgR activation also raised hepatic expression and circulating levels of fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21). This effect was retained in isolated primary hepatocytes from wild-type (WT) mice, but not GcgR knockout mice. We confirmed this link in healthy human volunteers, where injection of natural glucagon increased plasma FGF21 within hours. Functional relevance was evidenced in mice with genetic deletion of FGF21, where GcgR activation failed to induce the body weight loss and lipid metabolism changes observed in WT mice. Taken together, these data reveal for the first time that glucagon controls glucose, energy, and lipid metabolism at least in part via FGF21-dependent pathways.

In this cardiovascular safety trial, lorcaserin facilitated sustained weight loss without a higher risk of major adverse cardiovascular events than that with placebo in a high-risk population of overweight or obese patients.

Objective: Liraglutide, a once-daily human glucagon-like peptide-1 analog, induced clinically meaningful weight loss in a phase 2 study in obese individuals without diabetes. The present randomized phase 3 trial assessed the efficacy of liraglutide in maintaining weight loss achieved with a low-calorie diet (LCD). Methods: Obese/overweight participants (⩾18 years, body mass index ⩾30 kg m −2 or ⩾27 kg m −2 with comorbidities) who lost ⩾5% of initial weight during a LCD run-in were randomly assigned to liraglutide 3.0 mg per day or placebo (subcutaneous administration) for 56 weeks. Diet and exercise counseling were provided throughout the trial. Co-primary end points were percentage weight change from randomization, the proportion of participants that maintained the initial ⩾5% weight loss, and the proportion that lost ⩾5% of randomization weight (intention-to-treat analysis). ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00781937. Results: Participants ( n =422) lost a mean 6.0% (s.d. 0.9) of screening weight during run-in. From randomization to week 56, weight decreased an additional mean 6.2% (s.d. 7.3) with liraglutide and 0.2% (s.d. 7.0) with placebo (estimated difference −6.1% (95% class intervals −7.5 to −4.6), P <0.0001). More participants receiving liraglutide (81.4%) maintained the ⩾5% run-in weight loss, compared with those receiving placebo (48.9%) (estimated odds ratio 4.8 (3.0; 7.7), P <0.0001), and 50.5% versus 21.8% of participants lost ⩾5% of randomization weight (estimated odds ratio 3.9 (2.4; 6.1), P <0.0001). Liraglutide produced small but statistically significant improvements in several cardiometabolic risk factors compared with placebo. Gastrointestinal (GI) disorders were reported more frequently with liraglutide than placebo, but most events were transient, and mild or moderate in severity. Conclusion: Liraglutide, with diet and exercise, maintained weight loss achieved by caloric restriction and induced further weight loss over 56 weeks. Improvements in some cardiovascular disease-risk factors were also observed. Liraglutide, prescribed as 3.0 mg per day, holds promise for improving the maintenance of lost weight.

Growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF15), a divergent member of the TGF-β superfamily, signals via the hindbrain glial-derived neurotrophic factor receptor alpha-like and rearranged during transfection receptor co-receptor (GFRAL-RET) complex. In nonclinical species, GDF15 is a potent anorexigen leading to substantial weight loss. MBL949 is a half-life extended recombinant human GDF15 dimer. MBL949 was evaluated in multiple nonclinical species, and then in humans, in 2 randomized and placebo-controlled clinical trials. In the phase 1, first-in-human, single ascending dose trial, MBL949 or placebo was injected subcutaneously to overweight and obese healthy volunteers (n = 65) at doses ranging from 0.03 to 20 mg. In phase 2, MBL949 or placebo was administered subcutaneously every other week for a total of 8 doses to obese participants (n = 126) in 5 different dose regimens predicted to be efficacious based on data from the phase 1 trial. In nonclinical species, MBL949 was generally safe and effective with reduced food intake and body weight in mice, rats, dogs, and monkeys. Weight loss was primarily from reduced fat, and metabolic endpoints improved. A single ascending dose study in overweight or obese healthy adults demonstrated mean terminal half-life of 18 to 22 days and evidence of weight loss at the higher doses. In the phase 2, weight loss was minimal following biweekly dosing of MBL949 for 14 weeks. MBL949 was safe and generally tolerated in humans over the dose range tested, adverse events of the gastrointestinal system were the most frequent observed. The prolonged half-life of MBL949 supports biweekly dosing in patients. MBL949 had an acceptable safety profile. The robust weight loss observed in nonclinical species did not translate to weight loss efficacy in humans.

In this trial, obese or overweight adults were randomly assigned to receive the selective serotonin 2C receptor agonist lorcaserin or placebo for 52 weeks, along with diet and exercise counseling. Lorcaserin use, in conjunction with behavioral modification, was associated with significant weight loss, improved maintenance of weight loss, and improved levels of cardiovascular biomarkers. In obese or overweight adults, lorcaserin use in conjunction with behavioral modification was associated with significant weight loss, improved maintenance of weight loss, and improved levels of cardiovascular biomarkers. Activation of the 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT, or serotonin) receptor 5-HT 2C decreases food intake through the proopiomelanocortin system of neurons. 1 – 3 Lorcaserin is a small-molecule agonist of the serotonin 2C (5-HT 2C ) receptor designed to promote weight loss. Study of the nonselective serotonergic agonists fenfluramine and dexfenfluramine, which enhance presynaptic serotonin release and block its reuptake, validated serotonin receptors as pharmacologic targets for weight loss. 4 Unfortunately, use of these agents increases the risk of serotonin-associated valvulopathy, 5 – 8 which is thought to occur through agonism of 5-HT 2B receptors expressed on cardiac valvular interstitial cells. 9 – 11 Lorcaserin was designed to selectively . . .

Since the prevalence of obesity continues to increase, there is a demand for effective and safe anti-obesity agents that can produce and maintain weight loss and improve comorbidity. We did a meta-analysis of all published randomised controlled trials to assess the efficacy and safety of the newly approved anti-obesity agent rimonabant. We searched The Cochrane database and Controlled Trials Register, Medline via Pubmed, Embase via WebSpirs, Web of Science, Scopus, and reference lists up to July, 2007. We collected data from four double-blind, randomised controlled trials (including 4105 participants) that compared 20 mg per day rimonabant with placebo. Patients given rimonabant had a 4·7 kg (95% CI 4·1–5·3 kg; p<0·0001) greater weight reduction after 1 year than did those given placebo. Rimonabant caused significantly more adverse events than did placebo (OR=1·4; p=0·0007; number needed to harm=25 individuals [95% CI 17–58]), and 1·4 times more serious adverse events (OR=1·4; p=0·03; number needed to harm=59 [27–830]). Patients given rimonabant were 2·5 times more likely to discontinue the treatment because of depressive mood disorders than were those given placebo (OR=2·5; p=0·01; number needed to harm=49 [19–316]). Furthermore, anxiety caused more patients to discontinue treatment in rimonabant groups than in placebo groups (OR=3·0; p=0·03; number needed to harm=166 [47–3716]). Our findings suggest that 20 mg per day rimonabant increases the risk of psychiatric adverse events—ie, depressed mood disorders and anxiety—despite depressed mood being an exclusion criterion in these trials. Taken together with the recent US Food and Drug Administration finding of increased risk of suicide during treatment with rimonabant, we recommend increased alertness by physicians to these potentially severe psychiatric adverse reactions.