CBL-514 Injection Reduces Subcutaneous and Visceral Fat in Trial

An experimental injectable drug known as CBL-514 reduces subcutaneous fat and visceral fat without suppressing appetite like traditional weight loss medications, according to clinical trial findings presented at the annual meeting of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes in Milan.

CBL-514 Induces Self-Destruction of Fat Cells

The Phase 2 clinical trial evaluated 41 participants who received up to 600 milligrams of CBL-514 or a placebo over a three-month period. Within eight weeks, 70 percent of participants who received the drug lost at least 150 milliliters of visible subcutaneous fat.

Unlike popular weight loss injections such as Wegovy and Mounjaro that primarily curb appetite and increase feelings of fullness, CBL-514 induces the self-destruction of fat cells directly. Researchers utilized magnetic resonance imaging to measure visceral fat, which surrounds internal organs and is linked to elevated risks of heart attacks, diabetes, and strokes. One month after the final treatment, visceral fat decreased by approximately 12 percent in participants who received CBL-514, while it increased by about 6 percent in the placebo group. Two months later, the reduction in visceral fat stood at roughly 10 percent for the drug group, compared to an 11.8 percent increase in the placebo group. Side effects reported during the trial were limited to redness and pain at the injection site.

Phase 3 Trials Will Evaluate CBL-514 Safety

Animal trials investigating CBL-514 administered alongside tirzepatide—the active ingredient in Mounjaro—demonstrated greater weight loss compared to either drug used alone, with animals regaining less weight after stopping tirzepatide. Researchers suggest that destroying fat cells may limit the body’s ability to store fat anew, though further study is required. Two Phase 3 clinical trials are scheduled to evaluate the safety and efficacy of CBL-514 in reducing abdominal fat.

The experimental treatments emerge alongside broader developments in obesity pharmacology, including Eli Lilly’s Phase 2b trial results for EloraTZP presented at the same Milan meeting, which showed a 23.3 percent weight loss over 48 weeks, and Novo Nordisk’s REIMAGINE 5 trial data for cagrizema, which achieved a 12.4 percent weight loss in type 2 diabetes patients over 60 weeks.

Eli Lilly Reports Positive EloraTZP Trial Results

Eli Lilly announced positive Phase 2b trial results for its new combination drug treating obesity and type 2 diabetes, pushing shares up by 2.6 percent before stabilizing at a 0.5 percent gain, while a main competitor’s shares fell by 0.3 percent in response to the news. The experimental treatment EloraTZP—combining eloralintide and tirzepatide—was designed to simultaneously activate three nutrient-linked complementary hormones: GIP, GLP-1, and amylin, by pairing eloralintide, a selective amylin receptor agonist, with tirzepatide, a dual GIP and GLP-1 receptor agonist. The trial successfully met all primary and secondary endpoints across tested dose combinations, with the highest dose of 9 milligrams of eloralintide paired with 15 milligrams of tirzepatide producing the greatest reductions in weight and A1C levels. Participants entered the trial with a mean baseline weight of 232.40 pounds and an A1C level of 8.1 percent. Comparing individual components, eloralintide alone reduced body weight by up to 28.60 pounds (12.3 percent) and lowered A1C by 1.4 percent, whereas tirzepatide alone cut weight by 34.40 pounds (14.8 percent) and lowered A1C by 2.4 percent. The combination trial spanned 48 weeks with 367 participants, yielding a mean weight loss of approximately 54.10 pounds (23.3 percent) that significantly exceeded the 34.40 pounds (14.8 percent) achieved by 15 mg of tirzepatide alone, alongside a mean A1C reduction of up to 2.9 percent compared to 2.4 percent for tirzepatide. Gastrointestinal side effects were most common, and although generally mild to moderate and occurring primarily during dose escalation, discontinuation rates due to side effects were notably higher for the combination therapy, ranging from 10.8 percent to 27.0 percent compared to just 2.9 percent for tirzepatide alone and 16.7 percent for placebo. Eli Lilly intends to launch Phase 3 trials for EloraTZP in the fourth quarter of 2026.

In a separate Phase 3 trial, obese adults lost about 21 percent of their weight over 68 weeks using cagrizema compared to a placebo. Chief Scientific Officer Martin Holst Lange noted that the results are encouraging and demonstrate strong efficacy in treating obesity and diabetes. The drug has not yet received approval from the US Food and Drug Administration, but the company has submitted a formal application, anticipates a decision during the current year, and plans a market launch early next year. The most prominent side effects included gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, and abdominal pain, which are common among GLP-1 class medications.