A new experimental obesity drug could offer an alternative to GLP-1 medicines for people who struggle with their gastrointestinal side effects. Petrelintide, a once-weekly injectable drug that works on the hormone amylin, helped people with obesity lose more than 10% of their body weight in a Phase 2 trial. Published in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology, the drug showed a relatively low rate of gastrointestinal side effects. The study, however, did not directly compare petrelintide with drugs like semaglutide or tirzepatide. So, while the results suggest it may be better tolerated, researchers cannot yet say that it causes fewer side effects than GLP-1 drugs. Petrelintide Works Differently From Ozempic And Mounjaro Petrelintide is a long-acting amylin analogue. Amylin is a hormone produced by the pancreas alongside insulin and helps control appetite and food intake. A yet-to-be approved drug, unlike Ozempic and Wegovy, which target the GLP-1 hormone, petrelintide focuses on amylin. It is being developed by Danish drugmaker Zealand Pharma with Roche.Also read: CSIR-CCMB Scientists Find Flu & COVID Viruses May Affect A Protein Linked To Parkinson’s Disease Petrelintide’s Effect On Weight Loss The Phase 2 ZUPREME-1 trial included 485 people who received at least one dose of petrelintide or placebo, with everyone also receiving lifestyle advice. After 42 weeks, average weight loss ranged from 8.7% to 10.7%, depending on the petrelintide dose. The group receiving placebo lost about 1.7% of their body weight. The 5 mg dose produced the largest average reduction, at 10.7%. At 28 weeks, weight loss across the petrelintide groups ranged from about 7.9% to 9.8%, compared with 1.7% with placebo.Also read: Type 1 Diabetes: Student Nearly Dies After Diet Advice To Stop Insulin; Why Insulin Is Essential Petrelintide Shows Promise In Terms Of Tolerability This is perhaps one of the biggest attractions of petrelintide. Nausea was the most common side effect, affecting 20% of people compared to 6% in the placebo group. However, vomiting was uncommon, occurring in 3% of the petrelintide group compared with 6% of the placebo group. Diarrhoea occurred in 7% and constipation in 7% of those receiving petrelintide. Researchers also reported that most gastrointestinal side effects were mild. This is a well-tolerated medication," lead investigator Dr. Timothy Garvey of the University of Alabama at Birmingham told HCPLive . Approved GLP-1 drugs have produced larger average weight loss in their own trials, but Garvey said "This current level of 10-15% is sufficient to treat a large number of patients who have obesity. Three serious adverse events were considered related to petrelintide, including two cases of gallstones and one case of obstructive pancreatitis, according to an independent expert assessment of the study. Petrelintide Vs Ozempic One may be inclined to compare petrelintide's side-effects with that of GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic, Wegovy, Zepbound and Mounjaro, but the trial was designed to compare petrelintide with placebo, not with semaglutide or tirzepatide. Dr Marie Spreckley of the University of Cambridge cautioned that the comparison with GLP-1 medicines is too strong because “the trial did not test petrelintide against any of those medicines, so we cannot say from these results that it causes fewer side effects.” That means more investigation will be needed to compare petrelintide’s tolerability and existing obesity treatments. However, the results have prompted further development of petrelintide, with Phase 3 trials planned. Researchers are particularly interested in whether the drug can provide sustained weight loss while allowing people to remain on treatment without gastrointestinal symptoms.