New Oral GLP-1 Drug Shows Promise for Weight Loss

A new oral medication, aleniglipron, helped adults with obesity or overweight lose up to 12.1% of their body weight in a 36-week clinical trial. This experimental drug is a small-molecule glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) agonist. It differs from existing injectable GLP-1 drugs like semaglutide, known by brand names such as Ozempic and Wegovy.

Aleniglipron is designed to be taken once daily by mouth. It can be administered with or without food. This oral delivery method could offer a more convenient alternative to injectable medications. Small-molecule drugs may also be easier and less costly to manufacture at a large scale.

GLP-1 drugs mimic a natural hormone that stimulates insulin secretion, reduces appetite, and increases feelings of fullness. These effects contribute to weight loss. The phase II clinical trial, published in *Nature Medicine*, involved 230 adults. Participants received either aleniglipron at varying doses or a placebo.

Researchers observed average body weight reductions of 9.0% in the 45-milligram group, 10.7% in the 90-milligram group, and 12.1% in the 120-milligram group. The placebo group experienced a 0.5% change. Gastrointestinal side effects were generally mild to moderate and decreased over time. No new safety concerns or cases of drug-induced liver injury were reported.

Robert Kushner, a co-author of the study and professor emeritus of Medicine at Northwestern Medicine, noted the potential for combining aleniglipron with other medications due to its small-molecule nature. The findings support further development of aleniglipron. A phase III trial is planned to further evaluate its effectiveness and tolerability.