Metabolic HealthNew Amylin Drug Petrelintide Cuts Body Weight by Nearly 10% in Phase 2 Trial
Petrelintide, a novel long-acting amylin analogue developed by Zealand Pharma, produced clinically meaningful weight loss in adults with obesity in a rigorous phase 2 trial. Unlike GLP-1 receptor agonists such as semaglutide, petrelintide works through a distinct mechanism — mimicking the satiety hormone amylin — potentially offering a new option or combination partner for obesity treatment. Across five dose levels, participants lost between 7.9% and 9.8% of body weight at 28 weeks compared to just 1.7% with placebo. Weight continued to fall through week 42, reaching up to 10.7% total reduction. Critically, gastrointestinal side effects were mild, with nausea the only notable complaint, and rates of vomiting, diarrhea, and constipation were similar to placebo — a meaningful advantage over current standard-of-care agents.
