Weekly amylin drug petrelintide cuts weight up to 9.2% in type 2 diabetes
In a Phase 2 trial of 220 adults with obesity and type 2 diabetes, petrelintide cut body weight up to 9.2% and lowered HbA1c with few GI dropouts.
Summary
Petrelintide, a once-weekly injectable drug from Zealand Pharma, helped adults with obesity and type 2 diabetes lose up to 9.2% of their body weight over 28 weeks in a Phase 2 trial. The drug mimics amylin, a hormone the pancreas releases with insulin to help signal fullness, rather than targeting GLP-1 like popular weight-loss drugs. The 220 participants, all taking metformin, also followed a reduced-calorie diet. Placebo participants lost 2.0%. HbA1c, a marker of average blood sugar, fell by up to 0.65% on the drug and rose 0.23% on placebo. Only 1.9% stopped treatment because of stomach side effects, versus 1.7% on placebo. These are topline results from a company press release, so the full data still need independent scrutiny. A Phase 3 program of about 7,000 people is now underway.
Detailed Summary
Excess weight and type 2 diabetes often occur together, and both raise the risk of heart disease, kidney problems and other conditions that shorten healthy years. Treatments that improve both at once, and that people can tolerate long term, are a major goal for longevity-minded medicine. A new Phase 2 result from Zealand Pharma adds a different drug class to that effort.
The ZUPREME-2 trial enrolled 220 adults in the United States with overweight or obesity and type 2 diabetes. Participants averaged a BMI of 36.3 and an HbA1c of 8.0%, and all took metformin, some with an SGLT2 inhibitor. They received weekly petrelintide injections at one of three doses, or placebo, for 28 weeks, alongside a reduced-calorie diet and encouragement to be more active. Weight loss ranged from 7.4% to 9.2% across dose groups, versus 2.0% on placebo. HbA1c fell by up to 0.65% on the drug and rose 0.23% on placebo; after placebo adjustment, the company reports reductions of 0.61% to 0.88%.
Petrelintide is a long-acting version of human amylin, a hormone released by the pancreas with insulin during meals. The company says amylin signaling can restore leptin sensitivity, helping people feel full sooner. Tolerability stood out: 1.9% discontinued for stomach-related side effects versus 1.7% on placebo, and most side effects were mild and occurred during dose escalation. No unexpected safety signals appeared.
Zealand and Roche have launched a Phase 3a program of three trials covering people without diabetes, people with type 2 diabetes and people with established cardiovascular disease, totaling roughly 7,000 participants. A Phase 2 combination study with Roche's dual GLP-1/GIP drug is planned.
Caveats matter. These are topline numbers from a press release, the headline 9.2% uses the efficacy estimand that assumes full adherence, and 28 weeks says nothing about long-term outcomes. Full data at a scientific conference and peer-reviewed publication will allow proper evaluation.
Key Findings
- Petrelintide produced 7.4%–9.2% weight loss over 28 weeks versus 2.0% on placebo in adults with obesity and type 2 diabetes.
- HbA1c fell by up to 0.65% on the drug and rose 0.23% on placebo; placebo-adjusted reductions were 0.61%–0.88%.
- Only 1.9% quit due to stomach side effects, close to the 1.7% seen on placebo.
- The drug targets amylin, a fullness hormone pathway distinct from GLP-1 medications.
- A Phase 3a program of about 7,000 participants, including people with cardiovascular disease, has begun.
Methodology
This is a news report on topline results from a company press release for a 28-week, placebo-controlled Phase 2 trial of 220 adults. Longevity.Technology is a trade outlet relaying sponsor data, and the article itself notes that full results are not yet peer reviewed. The headline figure uses the efficacy estimand, which assumes full adherence.
Study Limitations
Results are topline, company-reported and not yet peer reviewed. The 28-week duration, efficacy-estimand headline figure and lack of head-to-head comparison with GLP-1 drugs limit conclusions about durability, safety and relative performance. Verify full data, the treatment regimen estimand results and discontinuation details when published.
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