New Research Shows Promising Results for Combined Obesity Treatment
A recent phase 2 clinical trial investigated the efficacy and safety of bimagrumab, an investigational antibody, in combination with semaglutide for the treatment of obesity. The study, involving 507 adults with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 kg/m² or higher, or 27 kg/m² with obesity-related complications, revealed substantial reductions in body weight.
Participants were randomized into nine groups, including placebo, bimagrumab (10 mg/kg or 30 mg/kg), semaglutide (1.0 mg or 2.4 mg), and various combinations of bimagrumab and semaglutide. The trial spanned 48 weeks, with an open-label extension to week 72.
Results indicated that the least squares signify absolute changes in body weight at week 48 were -9.3 kg (bimagrumab 30 mg/kg), -14.2 kg (semaglutide 2.4 mg), and -17.8 kg (bimagrumab 30 mg/kg plus semaglutide 2.4 mg) compared to -3.3 kg in the placebo group (all P < 0.001 versus placebo). Improvements continued through week 72.
The study also examined participant disposition, revealing that 74.4% (377 participants) completed the primary treatment period. Discontinuation rates due to adverse events were higher in the bimagrumab groups (14.0–21.4%) compared to the semaglutide (3.6–8.8%), combination (5.3–12.5%), and placebo (3.6%) groups. During the extension period, 7.1% of participants discontinued treatment.
Most participants in the trial were female (57.4%) and White (75.1%), with a mean age of 47.5 years, a mean body weight of 107.5 kg, a mean BMI of 37.3 kg/m², a mean waist circumference of 118.1 cm, a mean total body fat mass of 45.8 kg, and a mean total body lean mass of 58.3 kg.
Common adverse events associated with bimagrumab included muscle spasms, diarrhea, and acne, while semaglutide was linked to nausea, diarrhea, constipation, and fatigue. The combination therapy demonstrated a safety profile consistent with both drugs individually.
This research suggests that bimagrumab plus semaglutide may offer a significant advancement in obesity treatment, resulting in substantial weight loss while maintaining a manageable safety profile.