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News
A promising new obesity drug is turning heads. Petrelintide, a novel amylin analog, achieved up to 10% body weight loss at 42 weeks in people with obesity but without diabetes — and its side effect profile was nearly identical to placebo. With nausea rates roughly half those seen with GLP-1 drugs, it could offer a well-tolerated alternative for patients who struggle with current obesity medications.
A new obesity drug with a different playbook
Petrelintide, a novel amylin analog developed by Zealand Pharma, is making a strong early impression. Results from the ZUPREME 1 phase 2 trial — presented at the European Association for the Study of Diabetes annual meeting and published in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology — showed that the drug produced up to 10% body weight loss at 42 weeks in 485 adults with overweight or obesity (but without type 2 diabetes), across multiple doses. Crucially, its adverse event profile was comparable to placebo, a rarity in the obesity drug space.
Beyond weight, petrelintide also improved waist circumference, inflammatory markers (hsCRP), fasting insulin, blood pressure, and lipid profiles — including lowering triglycerides and raising HDL cholesterol. Unlike GLP-1 receptor agonists, it did not increase pulse rate.
By the Numbers
Why it matters
Two major unmet needs in obesity treatment are better tolerability and better medication persistence. Petrelintide's favorable side effect profile — and its distinct mechanism of action — could make it a viable option for patients who discontinue GLP-1 drugs due to side effects. Experts also see potential for combination therapy with GLP-1 agonists, given their complementary mechanisms.
