Amgen says experimental obesity drug has promising durability
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[December 05, 2022]
By Deena Beasley
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Amgen Inc's experimental obesity drug
demonstrated promising durability trends in an early trial, paving the
way for a larger mid-stage study early next year, company officials said
ahead of a data presentation on Saturday.
The small Phase I trial found that patients maintained their weight loss
for 70 days after receiving the highest tested dose of the injected
drug, currently known as AMG133.
Amgen shares have gained about 5% since the company said on Nov. 7 that
12 weeks of trial treatment at the highest monthly dose of AMG133
resulted in mean weight loss of 14.5%.
At 150 days after the last dose, maintained weight loss had dropped to
11.2% below original weight at the start of the trial, according to
findings detailed at a meeting of World Congress of Insulin Resistance,
Diabetes and Cardiovascular Disease in Los Angeles.
Patients treated with AMG133 did have side effects including nausea and
vomiting, but most cases were mild and resolved within a couple of days
after the first dose, Amgen said.
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The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that more
that 40% of the U.S. population is obese, costing nearly $173 billion
annually. It is a primary cause of type 2 diabetes and been linked to
heart disease, certain cancers and other health complications such as
more severe COVID-19.
The weight loss field has gained renewed medical and investor attention
in recent months after diabetes drugs from Eli Lilly and Co and Novo
Nordisk, known as semaglutide and tirzepatide, were proven to help obese
patients lose weight.
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![](../images/120522PIX/health25.jpg)
An Amgen sign is seen at the company's
office in South San Francisco, California October 21, 2013
REUTERS/Robert Galbraith
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2019/Sep/05/images/ads/current/stclara_lda_SPONSOR_090519.png) Both of those drugs, which need to
be injected every two weeks, are designed to activate GLP-1, a
hormone that triggers the feeling of fullness in the body after
eating.
Amgen's AMG133 also targets GLP-1, but has a dual mechanism which
aims at the same time to block activity of a gene known as GIP.
The drug was developed from work at Amgen to identify genetic
signals associated with lower fat mass and body weight, and also
healthy metabolic profiles, explained Saptarsi Haldar, head of
cardiovascular metabolic discovery at Amgen.
"Genetics clearly showed in multiple large populations that
decreased activity genetically of the GIP receptor gene was
associated with lower BMI (body mass index)," he said.
The California-based biotech said it plans to launch a larger
mid-stage study of AMG133 early next year, which will enroll a
broader range of patients, including those with additional health
conditions such as diabetes.
JP Morgan analyst Chris Schott earlier this month said that if all
goes well, a Phase III study of AMG133 could begin in 2024, with a
launch expected in 2026 or 2027, if approved.
(Reporting By Deena Beasley; Editing by Bill Berkrot)
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