‘Ozempic pill’ leads to faster, longer-lasting weight loss than popular jabs, trial finds

A daily pill can lead to faster weight loss in three months than Wegovy, a study has found.

Early trials of amycretin showed it helped patients lose an average 13 per cent of their body weight in 12 weeks, compared with 6 per cent taking the jab.

Experts believe the drug could become a ‘convenient’ alternative to the current jabs and form a major part of the next generation of anti-obesity medicines.

Developed by Danish pharmaceutical giants Novo Nordisk behind Ozempic, the pill works by mimicking the action of two peptide hormones which regulate hunger and blood sugar levels, in one single molecule.

GLP-1 is the same hormone targeted by semaglutide and tirzepatide, the key ingredients in Ozempic and Wegovy and Mounjaro.

GLP-1 is the same hormone targeted by semaglutide and tirzepatide, the key ingredients in Ozempic and Wegovy and Mounjaro 

In the first trials on people, patients were given the drug at different doses which were gradually increased over time, or a placebo.

Those taking 50mg doses of amycretin typically reduced their body weight by 10.4 per cent within 12 weeks of treatment.

Others given the maximum daily dose of two 50mg tablets lost an average of 13.1 per cent, according to the findings presented at the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) in Madrid.

This compared to an average weight loss of 1.1 per cent among those taking the dummy drug.

The authors conclude: ‘A single molecule that targets both amylin and GLP-1 biology in a tablet form could offer a more convenient approach to achieving better outcomes for individuals with overweight or obesity.

‘However, larger and longer studies are needed to fully assess the drug’s safety profile and potential.’

Early trials of amycretin showed it helped patients lose an average 13 per cent of their body weight in 12 weeks, compared with 6 per cent taking the jab 

Importantly, weight loss had not reached a plateau by the end of the 12-week period, suggesting further weight loss would come with extended use.

Further large-scale studies will now be carried out with hopes the drug could be available in as little as two years.

Side-effects were similar to other weight loss drugs, including nausea, vomiting and other gastrointestinal issues, according to the researchers in Novo’s US research arm.

Naveed Sattar, Professor of cardiometabolic medicine at the University of Glasgow and who was not involved in the study, said:

‘This early phase research on a new oral combination is exciting given the speed of weight loss seen.

‘However, far larger scale trials will be needed to test such medicines in due course, including its effect on disease outcomes.’