In a groundbreaking exploration, a recent trial uncovers the potential of a new drug combination that could potentially prevent muscle loss when taking Ozempic.
Regeneron Pharmaceuticals has announced interim results from its Phase 2 COURAGE trial, which investigates a novel approach to weight loss by combining semaglutide, a popular GLP-1 drug used for obesity and type 2 diabetes treatments, with up to two antibodies. The aim is to preserve lean muscle mass during weight loss, addressing a key clinical need and potentially improving patient health outcomes.
The trial divided volunteers into four groups: semaglutide only, semaglutide with lower or higher doses of trevogrumab, and the full combination of drugs, which includes trevogrumab and garetosmab. Trevogrumab blocks myostatin (GDF8), a protein that suppresses muscle growth, while garetosmab targets activin A, another protein that plays a key role in limiting skeletal muscle growth.
The findings from the COURAGE trial suggest that the full combination therapy significantly enhances fat loss while preserving lean muscle mass. In comparison, the two semaglutide plus trevogrumab groups saw a lean body mass loss of 17% and 7% respectively, while the semaglutide-only group experienced a lean body mass loss of around 35% by week 26. The combination therapy also resulted in a slight increase in weight loss compared to semaglutide alone.
However, people taking a higher dose of trevogrumab or the full three-drug combination reported more adverse effects and dropped out of the study at a higher rate. This potential trade-off is one of the trial's disadvantages, but other companies and research teams are also working on finding solutions to reduce the risk of muscle loss while taking GLP-1 drugs.
After the weight loss phase, patients entered a maintenance phase where trevogrumab monotherapy was administered to sustain muscle mass preservation. Clinical results show no significant change in lean body mass or skeletal muscle mass compared with baseline in patients receiving trevogrumab-containing regimens, suggesting effective muscle preservation during pharmacotherapy.
This approach is crucial because muscle loss during obesity treatment increases risks of frailty, cardiovascular problems, and metabolic complications like insulin resistance, which can undermine long-term health and sustainability of weight loss.
In summary, the most promising solution highlighted by Regeneron's Phase 2 COURAGE trial is the use of combination therapies pairing semaglutide with muscle-preserving antibodies—specifically trevogrumab (anti-myostatin) and garetosmab (anti-activin)—to protect muscle mass during GLP-1 drug-induced weight loss. This dual-target strategy represents a potential breakthrough in obesity treatment by simultaneously reducing fat and preserving lean mass, thereby improving patient health outcomes beyond weight loss alone.
[1] Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc. (2022). Interim Results of the Phase 2 COURAGE Trial for a Combination of Semaglutide and Up to Two Antibodies. [Press Release]
[2] Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc. (2022). Regeneron's Novel Approach to Weight Loss Preserves Muscle and Increases Fat Loss in Patients Receiving GLP-1 Therapy. [Press Release]
[3] Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc. (2022). Regeneron Presents Data from the Phase 2 COURAGE Trial for a Combination of Semaglutide and Up to Two Antibodies at the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) Annual Meeting 2022. [Press Release]
[4] Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc. (2022). Regeneron Announces Positive Top-line Results from the Phase 2 COURAGE Trial for a Combination of Semaglutide and Up to Two Antibodies. [Press Release]
- The health outcomes for obesity patients might considerably improve with the use of combination therapies, such as the one investigated by Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, which combines semaglutide with muscle-preserving antibodies like trevogrumab and garetosmab.
- Gizmodo reported on the Phase 2 COURAGE trial by Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, highlighting that the trial's innovative approach involves a combination of semaglutide, trevogrumab, and garetosmab to encourage fat loss while preserving muscle mass.
- In the future, the advancements in technology and science might lead to effective weight-management solutions by leveraging the investigative methods found in trials such as Regeneron's COURAGE trial, which combines semaglutide with muscle-preserving antibodies.
- Nutritionists and health-and-wellness practitioners have expressed interest in Regeneron Pharmaceuticals' groundbreaking trial, the COURAGE trial, as it explores a novel approach to weight loss that preserves lean muscle mass, potentially revolutionizing obesity treatments and reducing risks associated with muscle loss during weight management.
