(Reuters) -Overweight patients given an experimental weight loss drug being developed by China’s Sciwind Biosciences lost an average of 10% to 15% of their body weight, roughly in line with results from a similar drug sold by Novo Nordisk, according to a late-stage study published on Saturday.
The drug, called ecnoglutide, belongs to a class of drugs that include Novo’s Wegovy called GLP-1 receptor agonists, which work by helping control blood sugar levels and triggering a feeling of fullness.
“It’s going to be competitive,” said Dr. Tricia Tan of Imperial College London, who wrote a piece accompanying the data which appeared in medical journal The Lancet.
Tan said additional GLP-1s on the market could potentially drive prices down and improve access globally.
“It’s great to have competition in the market. It’s been extremely frustrating – I work in the National Health Service and patients are not getting access to these drugs.”
Patients have seen even better results with Eli Lilly’s Zepbound, which stimulates GLP-1 as well as a second gut hormone called GIP. More than 20% weight loss was reported in clinical trials.
According to the Sciwind Phase 3 study, 499 patients were given 1.2 mg, 1.8 mg or 2.4 mg of ecnoglutide as a subcutaneous injection once weekly for 48 weeks, with 165 patients assigned to receive a placebo. The study was conducted at 36 medical centers across China.
The patients who received the 1.2 mg dose lost an average of 9.9% of their body weight after 48 weeks, and those who received the 1.8 mg dose lost an average of 13.3% of their body weight. Patients on the 2.4 mg dose lost an average of 15.4% of their body weight.
The patients on placebo lost an average of 0.3% of their body weight over the period.
The side-effect profile is not significantly different from the other weight loss drugs. Many of the patients given ecnoglutide experienced decreased appetite and gastrointestinal problems, including diarrhea, nausea and vomiting, the study authors wrote.
(Reporting by Michael Erman; editing by Caroline Humer and Rosalba O’Brien)
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