Interest in obesity medications has grown significantly in recent years.
As a result, several pharmaceutical companies are developing new treatments designed to make it easier for patients to lose weight.
AstraZeneca is among the companies developing a tablet called elecoglipron. It has been tested in two trials involving more than 700 participants, according to The Sun.
Easier treatment
According to diabetes expert Marie Spreckley of the University of Cambridge, the trial results showed improvements in both weight and blood sugar levels, The Sun reports. She was not involved in the studies.
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One potential advantage of the tablet is that it can be taken once a day without any special restrictions on food or drink.
This could make treatment simpler for some patients.
The medication works in the same way as well-known treatments such as Wegovy and Mounjaro.
It affects the body's hunger signals and may therefore help reduce overeating.
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Trial results
Competition in the weight-loss medication market is intense. Both Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly are also developing tablets that are expected to become available in the coming years.
Results from AstraZeneca’s trials showed that participants lost an average of 10.5 percent of their body weight after 26 weeks. At the same time, their blood sugar levels reached the desired targets.
According to the early findings, elecoglipron could therefore become a strong competitor to the upcoming weight-loss pills being developed by other pharmaceutical companies.
Source: The Sun.
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