Ecnoglutide Shows⁣ Promise for Weight Loss and Metabolic⁢ Benefits

‌ Updated June 22, 2025

A new ⁤study reveals that ecnoglutide, a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist, is effective for weight loss in ⁤adults struggling with ⁢overweight or obesity. The SLIMMER trial, involving over 600 participants, demonstrated ecnoglutide’s superiority to placebo.

Dr.Linong ji, from peking University People’s Hospital, ⁤Beijing, China, highlighted that ecnoglutide also improved cardiometabolic‍ risk factors. These included ⁢waist circumference, blood⁤ pressure, lipid profile, A1C, fasting glucose, insulin levels, and uric acid, ⁢alongside ‌a reduction in liver fat content.

Ji presented the phase 3 trial‌ results at the American​ Diabetes Association (ADA)‍ 85th Scientific Sessions. The findings were simultaneously published​ in ⁢ The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology.

Ecnoglutide differs from other GLP-1 receptor agonists through its‍ selective induction of cyclic⁤ adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) production.⁤ Ji explained that unlike unbiased GLP-1 ⁤therapies, ecnoglutide minimizes β-arrestin‌ recruitment, potentially enhancing its effectiveness for weight reduction and sustained metabolic effects.

The trial⁤ randomized overweight and obese Chinese adults to weekly doses of 1.2‍ mg, 1.8 mg, or 2.4 mg of ecnoglutide, or to a placebo.The primary goals‍ were to assess‍ the percentage change ⁣in body weight and the‌ proportion of participants ​achieving at least a 5% reduction in body weight after 40 weeks.

Participants receiving ecnoglutide experienced average weight losses of 9.1%, 10.9%, and 13.2% at the ⁣1.2 mg,‌ 1.8 mg, ⁣and 2.4 mg doses, respectively, considerably surpassing the 0.1%‌ loss in the ⁤placebo group. Furthermore,‌ a significantly higher⁤ percentage of ecnoglutide⁣ recipients achieved at least 5% body weight loss compared to those on the placebo.

After 48 weeks, 78% to ⁤93% of ecnoglutide participants⁣ achieved at⁢ least 5% weight loss, with⁤ higher doses ‍yielding greater changes.‌ Adverse events,mainly mild-to-moderate ⁤gastrointestinal​ issues,led to medication discontinuation in ten ⁤ecnoglutide recipients. Treatment-emergent adverse events occurred in 93% of ⁤each ecnoglutide group and‌ 84% of ‌the placebo group.

“Ecnoglutide not only represents a viable competitor in the GLP-1 ⁤analog market but ​also stands out ⁢with its ​potential to address the nonresponse‌ limitations in obesity treatment while providing holistic metabolic benefits,” Ji said.

Ji noted that a significant portion ‌of weight-loss‌ patients ‌fail to achieve clinically significant weight loss. He emphasized the importance ⁣of option treatments with high response rates ⁣for those unresponsive to existing therapies.

“After 48 ⁢weeks of treatment, ecnoglutide achieved a 15.4% weight reduction, ⁣with 92.8% of patients attaining clinically meaningful weight⁢ loss,” ‌he⁤ emphasized.

Andrew ⁤Kraftson, MD, a specialist at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, noted that ecnoglutide⁤ refines existing molecules to enhance efficacy ⁤and reduce side effects. He added that the trend toward ⁢refining weight management therapy will‍ benefit‌ patients by expanding their⁤ options and ⁣potentially leading to personalized medicine.

what’s next

Ji suggests that longer‌ studies ⁢are needed, as patients in the 1.8-mg and 2.4-mg ​groups continued to ⁣lose⁢ weight ‍at week 48 without‌ plateauing. ‍Tricia M-M Tan, PhD, of Imperial College, London, advocated for a comparative study between ‍biased and balanced GLP-1 analogs to clarify the clinical role of this design feature.