In the Phase III DREAMS-3 clinical trial of mazdutide, the glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and glucagon (GCG) dual receptor agonist showed superior efficacy to semaglutide for body weight reduction. 

In Chinese patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) and obesity, mazdutide performed better than semaglutide on the primary endpoint, which was the proportion of participants achieving HbA1c < 7.0% and ≥10% body weight reduction from baseline at week 32.  

In addition, at week 32, the mean change in HbA1c from baseline was −2.03% in the mazdutide group and −1.84% in semaglutide group, respectively. The mean percentage weight reduction from baseline was 10.29% in the mazdutide group and 6.00% in the semaglutide group, respectively. 

Professor Linong Ji, the Principal Investigator of the DREAMS-3, Peking University People’s Hospital, stated: “As the world’s first approved GCG/GLP-1 dual receptor agonist, mazdutide has demonstrated superior efficacy in glucose lowering and weight loss over semaglutide in the latest Phase III clinical trial; mazdutide also provides multiple metabolic benefits and has a favourable safety profile, making it a new-generation GLP-1-based therapy suitable for Chinese patients.” 

Mazdutide is part of a license agreement between Innovent and Eli Lilly. As a mammalian oxyntomodulin (OXM) analogue, in addition to the effects of GLP-1 receptor agonists, it is believed mazdutide may also increase energy expenditure and improve hepatic fat metabolism through the activation of glucagon receptor. 

Dr Lei Qian, Chief R&D Officer of General Biomedicine from Innovent Biologics, stated: “China has a large number of patients with obesity and other comorbidities, underscoring an urgent need for more effective, safer, and more convenient innovative therapies. With successive approvals for weight management and T2D indications, we believe mazdutide will benefit a wide range of patients requiring multifaceted improvements in glycaemic control, body weight, and cardiometabolic risk factors.”

Diana Turner, Deputy Editor, DDW