A new weight-loss pill made by Novo Nordisk — the manufacturer of Ozempic and Wegovy — helps patients shed weight twice as fast as the blockbuster injections, the company recently announced.
The pill, called Amycretin, works similarly to the popular weight loss injections mimicking a natural hormone, GLP-1, which slows down the passage of food through the stomach, making people feel full for longer.
However, this drug also stimulates a hormone called amylin, which also reduces hunger and slows stomach emptying. The combination of therapies seems to make it more effective.
The medication was tested via a three-month placebo-controlled trial.
The early trials of the drug showed that people lost 13% of their weight over three months — more than twice the amount seen with Ozempic and Wegovy, the company claimed.
Those taking placebo pills lost 1%.
Aside from the effectiveness, experts have noted that a pill option may also be more appealing than an injection to some patients.
However, experts note that the short trials leave questions about the long-term effectiveness and safety of the drug.
Novo warned that Amycretin may come with side effects such as nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, similar to those of Wegovy.
The drug manufacturer is set to begin a Phase II trial in the second half of the year with results expected to be shared in early 2026.
The promising announcement caused Novo Nordisk’s stock to surge more than 8% to record highs, surpassing Tesla and Visa to become the 12th most valuable company.
Novo and Eli Lilly — the manufacturers of Mounjaro and Zepbound — have become the leaders in the obesity drug market, forecast by analysts to be worth $100 billion by 2030.
The drugs were initially created for people with Type 2 diabetes but have become widely used as a weight loss drug and risen in popularity so quickly that the FDA announced shortages as the medication flew off the shelves.
While many have raved about the drugs’ effectiveness, the products have also been found to have a long list of unexpected side effects including gastroparesis or “stomach paralysis” — a side effect which both Novo and Eli Lilly are being sued for.
