Novo Nordisk’s amycretin shows 22% weight loss over 36 weeks, potentially surpassing Eli Lilly’s Zepbound. Further trials are planned.

Novo Nordisk on Friday announced early-stage trial results for its amycretin obesity drug for subcutaneous injection, saying people with obesity or overweight treated with the drug achieved a 22% weight loss after 36 weeks.

An experimental drug called amycretin showed signs it could be more potent than Eli Lilly’s rival Zepbound, though analysts cautioned certain aspects of the study may have inflated its performance.

Novo Nordisk has reported topline outcomes from a Phase Ib/IIa trial of amycretin designed for treating obese or overweight individuals. The trial assessed the safety, pharmacokinetics, efficacy, proof-of-concept and tolerability of the unimolecular glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) and amylin receptor agonist.

Amycretin could give Novo a buzzy product in a newly competitive obesity market. It works similarly to existing GLP-1 products by mimicking a hormone in the body that provides a satiated feeling, which curbs hunger, but adds a different hormone in the pancreas.

Novo Nordisk stock is paring its year-over-year deficit on positive early stage trial results for the company's new weight loss drug. Here's what you need to know.

Novo Nordisk announced positive trial results for its next-generation obesity drug, leading to a 7.13% surge in its share price on Friday. View on euronews