Combining Two Diabetes Drugs Promote Better Weight Loss

Combining GLP-1s like Ozempic with a newer class of diabetes drugs may offer a more effective solution for weight loss and diabetes management than using any of these medications alone, according to a study in mice.

This approach can help type 2 diabetes patients manage their condition without the need for bariatric surgery, according to a new study published in Endocrinology and Metabolism.

About 90% of people with type 2 diabetes have obesity or are overweight. Both these conditions carry the long-term risk of cardiovascular disease, especially when they occur together.

Studies suggest that losing at least 15% of body weight can improve diabetes-related metabolic factors and reduce associated health risks. Such weight reduction is achievable with glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1s) like semaglutide (Ozempic) and liraglutide (Victoza), which also reduce blood sugar on their own.

At the same time, researchers are exploring newer treatments that combine different classes of drugs to improve weight loss and obesity-related conditions in type 2 diabetes patients. One of these additional drug classes is called dual amylin and calcitonin receptor agonists, or DACRAs, none of which are yet approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

The new study included adult rats with obesity and diabetes. For seven months, they were treated with either semaglutide alone, a DACRA called KBP-336 alone, or a combination of the two drugs.

The rats on the combination therapy also had less visceral fat, which surrounds the organs and can affect their function. A high amount of visceral fat may contribute to the development of high blood pressure, heart disease, cancer, and depression.

The new drug, KBP-336, was found to be effective, both alone and in combination with semaglutide, in stabilizing fasting blood sugar levels.

KBP-336 reduced endotrophin, a product derived from collagen that is expressed in fat tissue, high levels of which can indicate heart and liver failure. The combination therapy also provided a measure of glucose tolerance and lower insulin levels than either drug alone.

The authors wrote, “In obesity and type 2 diabetes, the treatment gap between pharmacotherapies and bariatric surgeries is narrowing; however, to finally bridge it, combination therapies are needed. Altogether, KBP-336 is a promising candidate for the treatment of obesity and type 2 diabetes both alone and in combination with GLP-1 analogs.”

Therapy combining semaglutide and KBP-336 is a promising treatment for type 2 diabetes and obesity. However, before the new drug is approved by the FDA, more studies evaluating its safety and efficacy are needed.