New weight loss pill helps shed weight twice as fast as Ozempic

health

by Adriana Diaz

A new weight loss drug made by Novo Nordisk, the maker of Ozempic and Wegovy, can help patients lose weight twice as fast as the blockbuster injection. The company recently announced.

The pill, called amicretin, works similarly to popular weight loss injections that mimic the natural hormone GLP-1, slowing the passage of food through the stomach and making you feel fuller for longer.

However, this drug also stimulates a hormone called amylin, which reduces hunger and slows stomach emptying. Combining multiple treatments appears to be even more effective.

The drug was tested through a three-month, placebo-controlled trial.

Early trials of the drug showed that people lost 13% of their weight over three months. This is more than double the amount observed at Ozempic and Wegovy.

Those who took the placebo pill had a 1% decrease.

Experts note that, apart from efficacy, pill options may be more attractive than injections for some patients.

But experts say short-term trials leave questions about the drug’s long-term efficacy and safety.

Novo warned that amicletine may have the same side effects as Wigoby, including nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.

The drug company plans to begin Phase II trials in the second half of this year, with results expected to be shared in early 2026.

The promising announcement sent Novo Nordisk’s stock price soaring more than 8% to a record high, overtaking Tesla and Visa to become the 12th largest company by market capitalization.

Novo and Eli Lilly, makers of Mounjaro and Zepbound, have become leaders in the obesity drug market, which analysts predict will be worth $100 billion by 2030.

The drug was originally created for people with type 2 diabetes, but it became widely used as a weight loss drug and its popularity soared that the drug disappeared from shelves and the FDA announced a shortage.

While many have raved about the drug’s effectiveness, the product has also been found to have a long list of unexpected side effects, including gastroparesis or “gastroparesis,” leading to Novo and Eli Both Lilly companies are being sued over this side effect.