Novo Nordisk’s Amycretin: A Promising Breakthrough in Obesity Treatment Set to Enter Phase 3 Trials

Danish pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk revealed plans to initiate Phase 3 clinical trials for its experimental obesity treatment amycretin, marking a potential comeback opportunity for the company as it faces increasing market pressure. The announcement made on Thursday indicates trials could commence in early 2026, testing both injectable and oral versions of the medication.

The drug’s Phase 2 trial results showed promising outcomes, with participants experiencing up to 22% reduction in body weight over a 36-week period. These results surpassed the weight loss achievements of both Novo’s current market offering, Wegovy, and competitor Eli Lilly’s Zepbound.

Amycretin’s unique approach combines targeting GLP-1, similar to Wegovy’s mechanism, with targeting the metabolic hormone amylin. This dual-action strategy has generated significant interest within the pharmaceutical industry, as evidenced by biotech firm Metsera’s recent stock surge following positive Phase 1 results for their own amylin-targeting compound.

The development comes at a crucial time for Novo Nordisk, which has experienced challenging market conditions. The company’s share value has declined by more than 40% in the past year, influenced by Zepbound’s successful market entry and disappointing trial results for their other obesity drug candidate, cagrisema. These setbacks contributed to the recently announced departure of CEO Lars Fruergaard Jørgensen.

Unlike cagrisema, which combines separate GLP-1 and amylin-targeting medications in a dual-chamber injection device, amycretin represents a single-molecule solution. According to Cantor Fitzgerald analyst Prakhar Agrawal, amycretin’s amylin-targeting component demonstrates enhanced potency compared to existing alternatives.

Novo Nordisk maintains a diverse obesity treatment pipeline, including an oral version of Wegovy currently under FDA review and ongoing Phase 3 trials for a higher-dose injectable format. The company continues developing cagrisema, exploring modified dosing schedules to potentially achieve greater weight reduction before its planned regulatory submission in 2026.

Meanwhile, Eli Lilly continues advancing its own obesity treatment portfolio, with two compounds in Phase 3 development. These include a GLP-1 oral medication that has already demonstrated success in late-stage diabetes trials and an amylin-targeting drug in Phase 2 testing.

The pharmaceutical industry’s growing interest in amylin-based treatments is evident through recent significant investments. Roche committed over $1 billion to acquire Zealand Pharma’s development program, while AbbVie secured rights to a similar compound through a potential $2 billion agreement with Danish company Gubra.

Novo Nordisk’s strategic focus on amycretin development reflects the company’s efforts to maintain its position in the competitive obesity treatment market. The advancement of both injectable and oral formulations demonstrates the company’s commitment to providing diverse treatment options for patients struggling with obesity.

The planned Phase 3 trials represent a critical milestone in amycretin’s development pathway and could potentially establish a new standard in obesity treatment. Success in these trials would not only strengthen Novo Nordisk’s market position but also contribute to the expanding array of therapeutic options available to address the global obesity crisis.