The drug named MariTide, administered through a monthly injection, is not yet available for sale. On Tuesday, the pharmaceutical company Amgen revealed that their experimental obesity medication aided patients in losing as much as 20 percent of their weight over the course of a year. MariTide is administered through an injection once a month, whereas other available obesity medications such as Wegovy and Zepbound require weekly injections. These medications have surprised veteran obesity researchers, who had nearly lost hope of finding safe and effective weight loss treatments. Currently, many similar medications are being developed as companies aim to enhance the existing options. Amgen is one of the first to demonstrate what could be achievable. The information was obtained from a Phase 2 trial assessing both effectiveness and safety. The study included close to 600 participants split into two groups: one consisting of adults who were either obese or overweight, and the other made up of patients with Type 2 diabetes. The medication still needs to complete further phases of clinical trials with a larger number of patients and obtain clearance from the Food and Drug Administration before it can be made available for sale to patients. The company has not established a price for the drug and hasn’t indicated when it might be available. Amgen also did not share specific data, which will be provided later in a peer-reviewed study and presented at an upcoming meeting, according to the company. To comply with the federal Securities and Exchange Commission’s requirements, it offered what is known as top-line data that might impact its stock price. Dr. Jeffrey Flier, a researcher in diabetes and obesity at Harvard, described the results as “promising,” noting that MariTide “could potentially become a significant contender in a very competitive market.” We’re experiencing difficulty accessing the article content. Kindly enable JavaScript in your browser settings. Thank you for your patience as we check your access.
