With obesity on the rise worldwide, people are looking for solutions to help with weight loss. From diet pills to weight loss injections and surgical procedures like gastric band surgery, there are already many options out there. But it won’t be long before a new weight loss pill comes along, maybe even better and safer than Ozempic.
Amycretin is a daily weight loss pill that accelerates weight loss when combined with a healthy diet and exercise. This combination therapy includes Semaglutide and an experimental drug called Cagrilintide, a new approach to weight management.
At an investor meeting recently Novo Nordisk presented results from a small clinical trial of a new anti-obesity drug called Amycretin. This oral medicine outperformed the company’s well-known weight management medicine Wegovy.
Amycretin weight loss drug was given once a day and the subjects lost an average of 13% of their body weight in 12 weeks. Wegovy resulted in an average weight loss of 6% in the same timeframe.
The mechanism of amycretin is novel as it combines the effects of two different medicines into one. This dual-targeting molecule binds to both GLP-1 and amylin, two hormones that play a role in appetite and glucose regulation.
GLP-1 is the target of existing medicines like semaglutide and tirzepatide in diabetes and obesity drugs like Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro and Zepbound. Novo and companies like Zealand Pharma consider amylin as the cornerstone for the next wave of anti-obesity medicines.
In addition to the oral formulation Novo Nordisk is also exploring an injectable version of amycretin which will be given subcutaneously like Wegovy and Zepbound. This is in an early stage trial and results are expected in 2025.
Martin Holst Lange, Head of Development at Novo Nordisk, was positive on the initial results of amycretin. He said these results are worth further exploration and plans to start a larger Phase 2 study in the second half of the year.
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Over the Counter Weight Loss Options Now Available
Amycretin is similar to other injectable weight loss medications on the market but it’s important to consider the downsides of these treatments. Ozempic, Wegovy and Mounjaro have worked for many but some have experienced such severe side effects that they’ve sought out natural alternatives.
While these injectable medications are effective for weight loss they often come with side effects – some of which can be severe and even life changing. These risks are well documented and can include gastrointestinal issues, pancreatitis and thyroid problems. And the cost is a big barrier for many with some injectables costing over $1,000 a month.
CLICK to read more on PhenQ and check pricing and availability
And the cost is a big barrier for many with some injectables costing over $1,000 a month.
Non-prescription options like PhenQ and Zotrim have been around for over a decade and are a more accessible alternative.
These oral supplements work similarly to injectable medications by suppressing appetite and controlling calorie intake.
But unlike injectable treatments like Amycretin and Ozempic – which are GLP-1 receptor agonists that affect insulin production – PhenQ and Zotrim don’t affect insulin levels.
PhenQ vs Injectable GLP-1 Drugs:
- Over the counter: PhenQ can be purchased without a prescription so it’s much more accessible than injectables which require doctor supervision.
- Non-invasive: PhenQ is a pill so it’s easier and more convenient to take than injections.
- Cost: As an over the counter supplement PhenQ is much cheaper than Amycretin and Ozempic especially if you don’t have insurance.
- Fewer side effects: PhenQ’s natural ingredient profile tends to have fewer and less severe side effects than injectables which can be life altering.
- Customer feedback: There are many verified customer reviews of PhenQ that have positive experiences.
Amycretin Weight Loss Pill – An Appetite Suppressant
Amycretin is a new weight loss pill being developed by Novo Nordisk, the company behind the popular Wegovy weight loss injection. Like Wegovy, Amycretin uses semaglutide, the same drug found in Ozempic which has been approved by the FDA for type 2 diabetes and is often used off-label for weight loss.
But Amycretin isn’t Novo Nordisk’s first oral semaglutide product. That’s Rybelsus, an FDA approved medication for type 2 diabetes. While Ozempic and Rybelsus are approved for diabetes treatment, many doctors prescribe them off label for weight loss. The FDA allows doctors to prescribe approved drugs for uses beyond what they were originally intended for.
Ozempic, the first semaglutide based product, was approved by the FDA in December 2017. Shortly after doctors started to notice weight loss as a common side effect and interest in semaglutide as a weight management solution.
Novo Nordisk saw this opportunity and developed a more potent version of semaglutide and created Wegovy. Clinical trials showed Wegovy helped participants lose 6% of their body weight in 12 weeks. This success led to FDA approval in June 2021 for chronic weight management in overweight and obese adults.
At an investor meeting on March 7, 2024 Novo Nordisk announced some exciting news that quickly spread: participants in the Amycretin trial lost 13% of their body weight in 12 weeks. The company’s stock went through the roof and Novo Nordisk’s market cap is now over $566 billion, even bigger than Tesla’s.
Novo hasn’t released the full study data yet but the potential for Amycretin to get approved is high. Since it’s more potent than Ozempic and Wegovy and in pill form vs weekly injections, Amycretin could be a highly sought after weight loss medication.
This could alleviate some of the current semaglutide injection shortages and could create a demand for Amycretin that’s bigger than anything Novo has seen before.
What Is Amycretin?
Amycretin is a daily weight loss pill that speeds up weight loss when used with a healthy diet and exercise. This combination treatment pairs Semaglutide with an experimental drug called Cagrilintide.
- Semaglutide is a GLP-1 receptor agonist, meaning it mimics the action of the GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) hormone.
- Cagrilintide is a dual amylin and calcitonin receptor agonist, targeting two different receptors to boost its effects.
Receptor agonists like Semaglutide and Cagrilintide work by binding to specific receptors in the body, mimicking the natural hormones or neurotransmitters. Semaglutide binds to GLP-1 receptors, Cagrilintide binds to amylin receptors—a hormone produced by the pancreas.
By combining these two mechanisms, Amycretin not only suppresses appetite like Ozempic and Wegovy but also boosts fat loss by increasing metabolism.
Amycretin is an orally taken pill – less invasive than weight loss injections
How Does Amycretin Work?
GLP-1 is an incretin hormone released in the gastrointestinal tract in response to food intake. Once released, it travels to the brain where it binds to GLP-1 receptors, signaling fullness and reducing appetite.
When you take Amycretin pills, the Semaglutide component does the same, making you feel full without needing to eat a lot of food. Plus, it slows down gastric emptying, food stays in the stomach longer, prolonging the feeling of fullness.
The Semaglutide in Amycretin also stimulates insulin secretion while inhibiting glucagon release. This dual action helps to stabilize blood sugar levels which is good not only for type 2 diabetes but also for weight loss. By stabilizing blood sugar levels the drug reduces the likelihood of sugar cravings driven by blood sugar crashes.
Low blood sugar often triggers intense sugar and carb cravings but Semaglutide prevents these fluctuations making it easier to resist unhealthy food cravings.
On another hand, the Cagrilintide component of Amycretin is a dual amylin and calcitonin receptor agonist (DACRA). While other drugs in this class exist, Cagrilintide is the only one that targets obesity and metabolic disorders.
- Amylin, a hormone produced by the pancreas, helps with weight loss by suppressing glucagon secretion and slowing gastric emptying like Semaglutide.
- Calcitonin, a hormone involved in calcium and bone metabolism may also play a role in speeding up metabolism leading to more fat loss.
Together, these mechanisms make Amycretin a powerful tool for weight loss, combining appetite suppression with enhanced metabolic function.
Who Will Be Able to Use Amycretin Weight Loss Pills?
If the Amycretin pill gains FDA approval for use in the role of weight management, there may be many people who are keen to obtain it but are not able to. Several factors can influence the decision to provide prescription weight loss medications.
Firstly, it’s necessary to have a positive attitude and a strong commitment to losing weight. People who cannot prove they have been making appropriate efforts with diet and exercise may not be able to obtain a supply of Amycretin
Body mass index (BMI) can also be a deal breaker. The FDA only permits doctors to prescribe approved weight loss medications to people who have a BMI of 30 or higher. People with this BMI are classed as obese.
In some cases, doctors may be able to prescribe approved weight loss medications to people whose BMI is 27 or higher but only if they have a weight-related comorbidity such as high blood pressure or diabetes.
Strangely, when doctors prescribe medicines off-label, they do not have to stick to these guidelines. So, when a doctor is unable to prescribe approved weight loss options, such as Wegovy, they may consider prescribing off-label alternatives, such as Ozempic, instead.
If Amycretin gets FDA approval, it will be for weight loss because that is the medication’s primary intent. This will make it one of the harder options to obtain via a doctor.
Other factors will influence eligibility for an Amycretin prescription as well. Even people who have a high BMI may not be able to obtain it if they are using medications that may clash with the new medication or have health issues that might make using it unwise.
Amycretin Side Effects and Safety Considerations
Novo says its research data suggests Amycretin is safe and well-tolerated. However, only 16 people received the experimental weight loss pills in the clinical trial. That’s not enough to provide a good insight into the benefits and risks. It’s only a good starting point that signals the need for more thorough investigation.
GLP-1 receptor agonists have many known side effects. Amycretin is unlikely to be an exception. It contains semaglutide, which often causes gastrointestinal side effects such as nausea and diarrhea. Fortunately, adverse reactions such as these tend to subside as the body becomes used to the presence of the drug.
On a graver note, animal-based studies suggest GLP-1 receptor agonists may have the potential to cause thyroid tumors and/or pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas gland). Because of this, the FDA insists this type of medication be distributed alongside a black box warning that highlights the potential risks.
The black box warning is the strongest warning distributed with pharmaceutical products. It indicates data from clinical trials has shown that the drug bearing the warning carries a significant risk of preventable, serious, or even life-threatening adverse effects.
Amycretin is also a dual amylin and calcitonin receptor agonist. Because drugs of this type are still experimental, there is not enough data to support a thorough evaluation of the risks they may present.
How Amycretin Compares to Other Prescription Diet Pills
So far the indications look like Amycretin is going to be one of the best weight loss drugs of the century but how does it stack up against some of the other prescription weight management products?
Rybelsus vs Amycretin
Rybelsus has more in common with Amycretin than any of the others. Both are semaglutide medications you take orally. Both come from the same company.
Like Ozempic, Rybelsus is often used as an off-label medication for weight loss. So if you can’t get Amycretin due to the FDA restrictions on BMI you may be able to use Rybelsus as a weight loss pill instead.
But Rybelsus is just a basic semaglutide pill. With Amycretin the drug has a powerful partner. Cagrilintide may be an experimental drug but it looks like it has synergy with its older brother.
Phentermine vs Amycretin
Phentermine is a popular appetite suppressing diet pill that’s been prescribed since the 1950s. It’s an amphetamine based medication that although effective can be addictive and is only for short term use. The max Phentermine prescription is 12 weeks.
Phentermine is prescribed for very overweight or obese people. That means they have a long weight loss journey ahead of them and Phentermine will only be able to support them part of the way.
Amycretin may have some problems but addiction is unlikely to be one of them so it’s a better option than Phentermine for anyone who needs ongoing long term weight loss support.
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Orlistat vs Amycretin
Orlistat is one of the few prescription weight management drugs that doesn’t suppress appetite. It’s a fat blocker that can help you reduce your daily calorie intake by blocking the action of the digestive enzyme that breaks down dietary fats.
When you take Orlistat up to 30% of the fat you eat with your food isn’t processed. It passes through your body undigested and can result in greasier stools and if not treated with respect can be extreme or explosive diarrhea.
Fat is 9 calories per gram so Orlistat can work for weight loss. But it can also cause people to become deficient in fat soluble nutrients (vitamins A, D, E, K). Amycretin doesn’t have this problem. Data suggests it’s also a more effective option if you’re willing to overlook some of the risks that come with GLP-1 mimetics.
When will Amycretin be available?
Novo Nordisk will start larger Phase II trials in the second half of 2024. Assuming everything goes to plan the results will be out in early 2026 and then if all goes well they will start to evaluate Amycretin more deeply in Phase III trials.
This stage of a new drug can take 1-4 years. Assuming positive results once all the data is in Novo will be able to submit it to the FDA and ask them to approve Amycretin as a prescription weight management medication.
Only 25-30% of drugs make it to the next stage so although Novo’s new weight loss pill has increased the company’s value there’s no guarantee it will make it to pharmacy shelves.
Even if it does, due to current research and FDA approval process Amycretin weight loss pills won’t be available for at least 2-3 years.
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