Novo Nordisk (NVO.US) Shares Rise Over 2% on Positive Early Trial Results for New Weight-Loss Drug Amycretin

According to the Zhijing Finance APP, Novo Nordisk (NVO.US) announced the full results of the early-stage trial of its experimental weight-loss drug Amycretin, and the company rose in pre-market trading. As of press time,Novo Nordisk rises 2.17% pre-market, trading at $132.60.

Results presented at the European diabetes medical event in Madrid, Spain, suggest the drug's potential is comparable to the company’s existing obesity products.

The early data of the study droveNovo NordiskThe stock price surged significantly in March. In addition to GLP-1 (the sole target of the company's incretin-based obesity treatment Wegovy), Amycretin also targets a pancreatic hormone named amylin, which influences hunger.

The full data from the Phase I trial shows that, at the end of the 12-week trial, patients receiving the maximum dose of 2 × 50 mg Amycretin experienced a 13.1% reduction in body weight.

In clinical studies,Novo NordiskWegovy, a weight-loss therapy approved by the U.S. FDA, helped patients lose about 6% of their body weight after 12 weeks.

In terms of side effects, 242 cases of mild to moderate side effects were reported among 60 subjects. Although no serious side effects related to secretin treatment have been reported, there was one serious but non-fatal adverse event.

Novo Nordisk"Our research has shown a 13.1% reduction in body weight, with side effects comparable to what we typically see with incretin-based treatments, primarily gastrointestinal side effects," said Martin Holst Lange, head of development.

Novo NordiskAnother new subcutaneous weight-loss therapy, CagriSema, is under development. CagriSema is a drug composed of semaglutide and another compound targeting amylin, cagrilintide, which has already generated promising Phase 2 data, helping patients lose approximately 16% of their body weight after 32 weeks of treatment.

Lange added: "The data I have seen so far suggest that pancreatin has at least the same weight loss potential as CagriSema."