Why Lilly and Novo are betting on amylin to power a new wave of obesity drugs after GLP-1s

Live updates

1. 2h ago

   Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk Develop Amylin-Based Obesity Treatments

   Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk are developing amylin-targeting drugs to treat obesity and diabetes, positioning amylin as a biological lever to complement or follow GLP-1 therapies. Recent data for the amylin-based drug petrelintide shows patients can lose more than 10% of their body weight with fewer side effects than current incretin-based drugs. Separately, Lilly is advancing retatrutide, a triple agonist that has delivered substantial weight loss and A1C reduction in trials for people with obesity and type 2 diabetes.

   Why it matters

   The pharmaceutical industry is seeking ways to increase weight loss efficacy while reducing the side effects associated with GLP-1 receptor agonists. Amylin is an emerging target that regulates appetite and glucose. This shift represents a move toward multi-agonist therapies to improve metabolic outcomes.

   What is confirmed

   • Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk are developing amylin drugs for the treatment of obesity and diabetes.
   • Lilly's triple agonist retatrutide produced substantial weight loss and A1C reduction in trials for people with obesity and type 2 diabetes.
   • Lilly's EloraTZP, a combination of eloralintide and tirzepatide, achieved greater weight loss and A1C reduction than tirzepatide 15 mg in adults with obesity and type 2 diabetes.

   Still unconfirmed

   • Weekly injections of petrelintide enable patients to lose more than 10% of their body weight with far fewer side effects than existing GLP-1 RA drugs.
   • Retatrutide delivered 25% weight loss at its highest dose in a Phase 3 trial.

   What to watch next

   • Clinical trial results for Novo Nordisk's specific amylin-based candidates.
   • Comparative efficacy data between petrelintide and current GLP-1 medications.
   • Regulatory filing dates for retatrutide and EloraTZP.
   Sources used for this update (17)

   1. The Guardian — ‘Godzilla’ of weight-loss drugs could provide other important health benefits
   2. Scientific American — Blockbuster retatrutide trial signals a ‘new high-water mark’ for weight-loss drugs
   3. Eli Lilly — Lilly's triple agonist, retatrutide, delivered substantial weight loss and A1C reduction, underscoring its potential promise for people with obesity and type 2 diabetes
   4. Eli Lilly — Lilly's EloraTZP (combination of eloralintide and tirzepatide) delivered greater weight loss and A1C reduction vs. tirzepatide 15 mg in adults with obesity and type 2 diabetes
   5. Reuters — Experimental Lilly combination drug tops Zepbound in weight-loss trial
   6. WSJ — Lilly’s Next-Gen Obesity Drug Helps People Lose Even More Weight in Study
   7. CNBC — Why Lilly and Novo are betting on amylin to power a new wave of obesity drugs after GLP-1s
   8. BioPharma Dive — 3 takeaways from a European obesity scientific meeting
   9. www.cnbc.com — Lilly, Novo bet on amylin obesity drugs after GLP-1s
   10. Medscape — Retatrutide Yields Significant Weight Loss in T2D
   11. Simply Wall Street — Eli Lilly (LLY) Posts Strong Late Stage Obesity And Diabetes Trial Results
   12. ScienceAlert — Ozempic Rival Delivers 25% Weight Loss at Highest Dose in Phase 3 Trial
   confidence 90%