Zealand Pharma says its once-weekly treatment produced significant weight loss and improved blood sugar control in a mid-stage trial, paving the way for studies involving about 7,000 people.
Petrelintide has shown promising weight-loss and blood sugar benefits in a mid-stage trial of people living with overweight or obesity and type 2 diabetes, according to Zealand Pharma. The Danish drug developer said the US study enrolled 220 participants with a mean body mass index of 36.3 kg/m² and an average HbA1c of 8.0%, a measure of longer-term blood glucose control. All three once-weekly dose groups reached the trial’s main goal, with average weight loss ranging from 7.4% to 9.2%, while placebo-adjusted HbA1c reductions came in between 0.61 and 0.88 percentage points.
Tolerability appeared broadly in line with placebo, with 1.9% of participants receiving petrelintide stopping because of gastrointestinal side effects, compared with 1.7% in the placebo group. Zealand said most adverse events were mild and tended to occur during dose escalation, the period when treatment is gradually increased to help the body adjust. Full results are due to be presented at an upcoming scientific conference.
The findings come as Zealand and Roche have already advanced the medicine into a larger late-stage programme. The companies have begun three Phase 3a trials, known as ZUPREME-3, ZUPREME-4 and ZUPREME-5, which together are expected to enrol about 7,000 people. David Kendall, Zealand Pharma’s chief medical officer, said the data “further support the potential of petrelintide in chronic weight management” and, for the first time, “demonstrate its promise as a standalone treatment for those living with overweight or obesity and type 2 diabetes”.
Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical judgment, advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
