New GLP-1 pill delivers up to 12% weight loss in 36 weeks
A phase II clinical trial has shown that a new oral small-molecule drug, aleniglipron, can help adults with obesity lose up to 12% of their body weight. This medication offers a potential alternative to current peptide-based injectables like Ozempic.
Why it matters
Oral weight-loss medications could significantly improve patient access and reduce manufacturing costs compared to existing injectable treatments.
A new oral approach to GLP-1 treatment helped adults with obesity or overweight lose as much as 12 percent of their body weight over 36 weeks, according to a randomized phase II clinical trial published in Nature Medicine.
Robert Kushner, MD, '82 GME, professor emeritus of Medicine in the Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Molecular Medicine, was a co-author of the study.
Aleniglipron differs from currently available GLP-1 drugs (glucagon-like peptide 1) such as semaglutide, which is sold as Ozempic and Wegovy. Instead of being a peptide-based injectable medication, aleniglipron is a small-molecule drug taken by mouth and is being developed as a treatment for obesity.
GLP-1 drugs work by mimicking the naturally occurring GLP-1 hormone. Their effects include stimulating insulin secretion, reducing appetite and increasing feelings of fullness, which can support weight loss.
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