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New Oral β2 Agonist Preserves Muscle in Early Weight-Loss Trials

Developed at Karolinska Institutet this oral treatment is advancing to Phase II testing in people with type 2 diabetes or obesity.

Stock image of weight loss pills.
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Overview

  • The drug activates signaling pathways in skeletal muscle to boost metabolism without overstimulating the heart
  • A Phase I trial of 48 healthy volunteers and 25 people with type 2 diabetes showed the treatment was well tolerated
  • Preclinical studies in mice and rats demonstrated improved body composition and blood sugar control without muscle loss
  • Its distinct mechanism allows use as a standalone therapy or in combination with GLP-1 agonists like Ozempic
  • Atrogi AB will launch a larger Phase II study to evaluate efficacy and safety in type 2 diabetes and obesity patients