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News
A first-in-class injectable drug, CBL-514, reduced visceral fat volume by nearly 12% at week 4 in a phase 2 trial — while placebo patients actually gained visceral fat. The drug works by triggering fat cell death and is injected directly into the abdomen. Researchers say the health benefits go well beyond aesthetics, with potential improvements in blood pressure and cholesterol.
A novel injectable drug called CBL-514 is turning heads in metabolic medicine. In a phase 2 trial, the first-in-class drug — which works by selectively triggering fat cell death — reduced visceral fat volume by nearly 12% at just week 4, while participants on placebo saw their visceral fat increase by nearly 6% over the same period.
The trial analyzed MRI data from 40 participants (BMI 22–30) across two phase 2 studies. Participants received injections of up to 600 mg of CBL-514 or placebo into the lower abdomen every 3 weeks for up to 12 weeks, with frequency tapering as fat thickness decreased. The reductions held at weeks 8–12, with CBL-514 users showing ~10% less visceral fat versus a ~12% increase in the placebo group.
By the Numbers:
Why it matters: Visceral fat — the fat packed around internal organs — is strongly linked to cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and metabolic syndrome. Unlike subcutaneous fat, it's notoriously hard to target. CBL-514 could offer a new, localized approach to reducing this high-risk fat, with researchers noting potential downstream benefits for blood pressure and cholesterol alongside the cosmetic effects.
