Danish pharmaceutical giant Novo Nordisk announced Tuesday that an experimental obesity medication developed in partnership with United Biotechnology produced remarkable weight reduction results during clinical testing.
The investigational drug, known as UBT251, works by targeting three different hormone receptors – GLP-1, GIP, and glucagon – and led to an average weight loss of nearly 20% among study participants over a six-month period, according to the company’s announcement.
United Biotechnology conducted the clinical trial to evaluate both the safety profile and effectiveness of the weekly injection treatment. Researchers tested three different dosage levels – 2 milligrams, 4 milligrams, and 6 milligrams – against a placebo in Chinese participants who were either overweight or obese.
Study participants began the trial with an average body weight of 92.2 kilograms (approximately 203 pounds). Those receiving the highest dose of UBT251 experienced a maximum average weight reduction of 19.7%, while participants given the placebo only lost 2.0% of their body weight during the same 24-week treatment period, Novo Nordisk reported.
The results represent a statistically significant difference between the treatment and control groups, marking another potential breakthrough in obesity treatment development.
