Longevity & Aging

Can an NAD+ pill protect muscle in people taking semaglutide?

Weight-loss drugs like semaglutide work, but some of the weight lost is muscle, which matters for strength, balance and independence as we age. Biotech company Sironax says it has reached about 50 percent of its enrollment target in the Phase 2 FORGE-LM trial of SIR4156, an oral pill that activates NAMPT, a key enzyme in making NAD+. NAD+ is a molecule involved in energy and mitochondrial function, and its levels fall with age and metabolic dysfunction. In mouse studies, the company reports the drug produced preferential fat loss, preserved lean mass and improved physical performance. The human trial is randomized, double-blinded and placebo-controlled, and pairs the drug with semaglutide in adults with obesity. Its primary goal is body fat and body composition, with lean mass as a secondary measure. The drug is investigational, and animal results often fail to translate to people.