A new study indicates that experimental weight-loss drugs may soon outperform "Mounjaro," after showing promising results in helping patients lose around a quarter of their body weight in less than a year.
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Trials showed that the drug "retatrutide," nicknamed "Godzilla," helped patients lose nearly 25% of their body weight over 48 weeks, while "amycretin" achieved similar results in just 36 weeks. Both drugs are still undergoing trials and have not yet received approval for widespread use.
By comparison, "Mounjaro" (currently the strongest weight-loss injection available), which contains the active ingredient "tirzepatide," helps patients lose more than 20% of their body weight after about 17 months of treatment. "Semaglutide" injections, such as "Wegovy" and "Ozempic," can achieve weight loss of up to 18.7% over a similar period.
Drugs Targeting More Than One Hormone
Researchers from McGill University and the Jewish General Hospital in Montreal conducted a review of 38 clinical trials involving more than 25,000 participants, aiming to compare the effectiveness and safety of weight-loss drugs.
The researchers believe that the difference in how these drugs work partly explains the variation in their ability to reduce weight. "Semaglutide" mimics the hormone GLP-1, which helps produce a feeling of fullness and reduces appetite, while "tirzepatide" targets both the GLP-1 and GIP hormones together. GIP helps regulate appetite and blood sugar levels.
"Retatrutide," meanwhile, targets three hormonal pathways: GLP-1, GIP, and glucagon (which, alongside its role in regulating blood sugar levels, is linked to increased energy expenditure by the body, which may aid weight loss).
"Amycretin," on the other hand, targets the GLP-1 hormone and amylin, a hormone secreted by the pancreas after eating that helps produce a feeling of fullness, slows stomach emptying, and helps regulate blood sugar levels.
Experts believe that targeting more than one pathway may help achieve greater weight loss.
Common Side Effects
However, these drugs may cause side effects, most notably nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and constipation. 76% of those who received weight-loss drugs reported gastrointestinal side effects, compared to 40% of those who received a placebo, while around 10% had to discontinue treatment.
The study also recorded rare cases of bile duct disorders, pancreatitis, and psychiatric disturbances, in addition to six deaths.
The study's findings were published in the journal Annals of Internal Medicine, though the researchers noted differences in the design of the clinical trials, meaning the results cannot be directly compared across all the drug.
