An experimental weight loss drug could burn fat up to five times faster than the drug behind Ozempic and Wegovy, research results suggest.
Obese and overweight patients who received the new weekly injection lost an average of up to 32 pounds, or 14.7 percent of their body weight, in just 13 weeks.
By comparison, clinical trials of the drug in Ozempic and Wegovy found that patients lost as much weight in just 68 weeks – or five times as long.
The California-based biotech company that makes the drug, Viking Pharmaceuticals, saw its shares double in value after the results were announced, giving it a stock market value of $8.5 billion. The company’s share price has more than quadrupled so far this year.
Doses of the experimental drug were administered up to 15 milligrams (mg) per week, much higher than the regimen for other weight loss medications (stock image)
Viking’s share price has more than doubled since the announcement. Above you can see the company’s share price over the past five years
Viking reported that patients in the study had side effects such as nausea and vomiting, but said the cases were mild or moderate.
This was similar to studies of Ozempic and Wegovy, where patients also reported these side effects.
One patient in the trial for the drug – called VK2735 – had a severe case of dehydration.
Ozempic, Wegovy and Eli Lilly’s tirzepatide work by stimulating naturally occurring hormones that regulate blood sugar levels and suppress appetite.
Viking’s drug works on two receptors, like tirzepatide, but the phase two trial suggested its injection was even more effective than the latter.
However, Vikings will still have to go through phase three trials – to assess its safety and effectiveness in a larger population – before confirming that success.
After phase three, it will also be eligible for approval by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The company said it is currently in discussions with the agency.
A price for the new drug has not been disclosed, but Ozempic itself costs more than $900 per month.
Viking still needs to find a distribution partner to produce the drug at scale.
The development comes as pharmaceutical companies try to cash in on the U.S. weight-loss drug market, which is expected to rise from less than $100 million in 2020 to $44 billion by 2030.
More than nine million prescriptions were written for medicines including Ozempic, Wegovy and Mounjaro in the last three months of 2022, with companies rushing to expand supply to meet demand.
Viking Pharmaceuticals says their drug works by mimicking the hormone Glucago-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), the same as in Ozempic which helps patients feel full longer.
But the drug also mimics the glucose-dependent insulintropic polypeptide (GIP), which can help slow the movement of food through the intestines, making a person feel full longer.
In Viking’s study, scientists recruited 176 adults with obesity or overweight and at least one underlying comorbidity, such as type 2 diabetes.
At the start of the study, they weighed an average of 225 pounds.
The participants were initially split into five groups of approximately 35 adults each, one of which was the placebo, while the other four were randomized to doses of VK2735 ranging from 2.5 to 15 mg.
Scientists then monitored their weight for 13 weeks while receiving weekly injections of the drugs, as well as any reported side effects.
The trial was double-blind, with neither scientists nor participants told who was receiving the new drug and at what dose.
The results showed that 88 percent of patients in the highest dose group achieved a weight loss of at least 10 percent of their original body weight.
People in this group lost an average of 32.2 pounds during the study period, which equates to 2.5 pounds per week.
By comparison, the smallest amount of weight loss was recorded in the group given 2.5 mg per week – an average of 20 pounds over the study, or an average of 1.5 pounds per week.
In the placebo group, only four percent had weight loss at this level over the same period.
Patients in the highest dose group were also the most likely to report side effects: 40 percent said they experienced nausea and 30 percent said they experienced vomiting.
By comparison, those who received the lowest doses were the least likely to experience side effects; nine percent said they experienced vomiting.
It was not clear what proportion of the weight lost was fat compared to muscle, with the problem in previous studies being that patients had mainly lost muscle mass – leading to them quickly regaining the weight when they returned to their old diet.
Revealing the results, Dr. Brian Lian, CEO of Viking, said: “We are pleased to report the topline results from this important Phase Two study.
A total of 18 of the 176 patients – or 10 percent – also stopped treatment while in the study.
‘VK2735 continues to demonstrate a promising efficacy and tolerability profile after 13 weeks of repeated dosing in obese subjects.’
He added: ‘Notably, robust weight loss compared to placebo was observed early at all doses evaluated in the VENTURE trial (phase two trial), and this was maintained throughout the treatment period in all treatment groups.
‘No evidence of a plateau at week 13 was observed for any VK2735 dose, suggesting that further weight loss could be achieved through extended dosing periods.
“We look forward to advancing this important therapy into clinical development later this year.”
The company is also working on an oral formulation of their drug, similar to the formulation being developed by Ozempic’s manufacturer Novo Nordisk.