New Drug MariTide Shows Promising Weight Loss Results
Key takeaways:
- Early study results found that MariTide, a new potential weight loss drug, showed up to 20% weight loss in people with obesity or overweight, and 17% weight loss with a 2.2% reduction in A1C for people with type 2 diabetes.
- Unlike other weight loss drugs that activate both GLP-1 and GIP receptors, MariTide blocks GIP while activating GLP-1.
- Weight loss continued without leveling off at 52 weeks, indicating that ongoing studies could further support MariTide’s use in long-term weight loss and diabetes treatment.
Recent study data found that MariTide, an experimental once-monthly injection being tested by the company Amgen, has yielded promising results for people with obesity or overweight and type 2 diabetes. Its less frequent dosing and clinically meaningful improvements suggest that MariTide could become a more convenient treatment option for sustained weight loss.
While people often experience a stall in weight loss after taking GLP-1 medications for a certain period of time (also known as “plateauing”), the MariTide study demonstrated further weight loss, even at 52 weeks.
More about MariTide
Unlike tirzepatide (Zepbound for weight loss, Mounjaro for type 2 diabetes), which activates both GLP-1 and GIP receptors, MariTide activates GLP-1 receptors and blocks the effects of GIP. This comes as a surprise to researchers, who are trying to understand why activating and blocking GIP can produce similar metabolic effects. By blocking the GIP receptor, MariTide offers a unique mechanism that may help mitigate weight rebound, a common issue seen with other weight loss medications.
All subjects enrolled in Amgen’s phase 2 study were people living with obesity or overweight. Participants who had type 2 diabetes lost up to 17% of their initial weight and saw a 2.2% reduction in their A1C with MariTide. The group without type 2 diabetes taking MariTide experienced up to 20% weight loss and saw improvements in cardiometabolic markers, including decreased blood pressure and cholesterol levels.
Similar to other GLP-1 medications, side effects such as nausea and vomiting were mild with initial dosing of MariTide, and improved with increasing doses. Given the ongoing results, patients may potentially benefit from sustained treatment, leading to weight maintenance without the typical setbacks of weight rebound after discontinuation.
What’s next
With part one of the phase 2 trial wrapping up, 90% of eligible participants have opted to continue MariTide for another year for part two of the study. Amgen plans to launch a phase 3 trial with MariTide called MARITIME and continue exploring long-term outcomes of MariTide in the ongoing phase 2 trial, with results expected in 2026. This next phase will help assess the long-term effects of MariTide on weight maintenance and its potential for progressive weight loss over multiple years.
New treatments like MariTide, combining GLP-1 activation with GIP inhibition, might offer a new approach to managing type 2 diabetes and obesity-related conditions. As more data emerges, MariTide could emerge as a valuable tool for achieving further weight loss.
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