Amgen's maridebart cafraglutide (MariTide), a bispecific GLP-1 receptor agonist and GIPR antagonist, has shown significant weight loss results in a phase 2 trial, marking a potential advancement in obesity treatment. The BPROAD trial also demonstrated the cardiovascular benefits of intensive blood pressure control in patients with type 2 diabetes, while new data supports semaglutide's efficacy in reducing knee osteoarthritis pain in obese individuals.
MariTide Achieves Significant Weight Loss in Phase 2 Trial
Amgen announced positive 52-week phase 2 results for MariTide, an investigational drug for obesity and overweight. The trial revealed that MariTide achieved up to 20% average weight loss in participants without type 2 diabetes and 17% in those with type 2 diabetes. Notably, no weight loss plateau was observed during the study period. Amgen plans to advance MariTide to the MARITIME phase 3 program, focusing on obesity and related conditions with its unique profile of progressive weight loss and infrequent dosing. Ongoing phase 2 evaluations will assess weight maintenance and loss durability post-treatment.
Semaglutide Eligibility in US Adults
A recent study suggests that nearly 140 million US adults, representing half of the adult population, could be considered candidates for semaglutide (Ozempic/Wegovy) based on the agent's current labeling. Using NHANES data, researchers from Harvard, Northwestern, and other institutions determined that 35.0 million adults qualified for use based on its diabetes indication, 129.2 million were eligible based on its weight management indication, and 8.9 million were considered eligible based on its indication for secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease.
Intensive Blood Pressure Control Reduces CVD Risk in Type 2 Diabetes
The BPROAD trial examined the effects of a 120 mmHg versus 140 mmHg blood pressure target in adults aged 50 years or older with type 2 diabetes, elevated systolic blood pressure, and an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. The trial, conducted across 145 clinical sites in China, followed participants for up to 5 years. The primary outcome was a composite of nonfatal stroke, nonfatal myocardial infarction, treatment or hospitalization for heart failure, or death from cardiovascular causes.
Results indicated that the mean systolic blood pressure (SBP) levels at the 4-year visit were 120.6 mmHg in the intensive treatment group and 132.1 mmHg in the standard treatment group. Participants receiving the intensive treatment regimen experienced a 21% lower relative risk of major cardiovascular events during the follow-up period, compared with those on standard treatment (HR 0.79; 95% CI, 0.69 to 0.90; P <.001).
Semaglutide Reduces Knee Osteoarthritis Pain
In the STEP 9 trial, semaglutide 2.4 mg significantly reduced body weight and knee osteoarthritis pain in obese individuals compared to placebo. The 68-week, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial enrolled 407 participants (81.6% women) with a mean age of 56 years, a mean BMI of 40.3, and a mean Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) pain score of 70.9.
The mean change in body weight from baseline to week 68 was -13.7% with semaglutide (95% CI, -12.3 to -8.6) compared with -3.2% with placebo (P <.001). At the same time point, the mean change in WOMAC pain score at week 68 was -41.7 points with semaglutide (95% CI, -20.0 to -8.3) compared with -27.5 points with placebo (P <.001), and the improvement in 36-Item Short Form Survey physical-function score was 12.0 points with semaglutide (95% CI, 3.1-8.0) compared with 6.5 points with placebo (P <.001).
