Latest Developments in Obesity Treatments Unveiled at ADA 2025

The 2025 American Diabetes Association (ADA) Scientific Sessions has once again proven to be a pivotal event for the pharmaceutical industry, with obesity treatments taking center stage. As the obesity market is projected to reach $150 billion annually by the early 2030s, pharmaceutical companies are racing to develop next-generation therapies that address current limitations and explore novel mechanisms of action.

Muscle Preservation: A New Focus in Weight Loss Medications

Eli Lilly's bimagrumab has emerged as a promising candidate in the fight against muscle loss during weight reduction. In the Phase IIb BELIEVE trial, bimagrumab, when combined with Novo Nordisk's semaglutide (Wegovy), demonstrated a 22.1% reduction in body weight at 72 weeks, with 92.8% of the weight loss attributed to fat. This data positions bimagrumab as a potential complementary treatment to existing GLP-1 agonists, addressing the concern of muscle wasting associated with current therapies.

Similarly, Scholar Rock's apitegromab, initially developed for spinal muscular atrophy, has shown promise in preserving lean mass during weight loss. The Phase II EMBRAZE trial revealed that patients treated with both apitegromab and Eli Lilly's tirzepatide lost 3.4 lbs of lean mass over 24 weeks, compared to 7.6 lbs in those given tirzepatide alone – a nearly 55% muscle preservation advantage.

Novel Mechanisms and Combination Therapies

Novo Nordisk is advancing its next-generation therapy, amycretin, which targets both GLP-1 and amylin receptors. After 36 weeks of treatment, patients experienced a 24.3% reduction in weight, slightly dipping to 23.2% after placebo correction. Despite impressive results, concerns over adverse events have tempered some analysts' enthusiasm.

Zealand Pharma is exploring a unique approach with dapiglutide, a dual GLP-1 and GLP-2 receptor agonist. This mechanism not only induces weight loss but also addresses low-grade inflammation associated with obesity. Phase Ib data showed an 11.6% weight reduction over 28 weeks, with potential for even greater efficacy in more representative patient populations.

Emerging Targets in Obesity Treatment

While not featured at ADA, Terns Pharmaceuticals' TERN-501, a thyroid hormone receptor-beta (THR-β) agonist, represents another novel approach to obesity treatment. Preclinical data demonstrated enhanced weight loss when combined with semaglutide, primarily through fat mass reduction. The company claims TERN-501's selectivity for THR-β minimizes cardiovascular risks associated with broader thyroid hormone modulation.

As the obesity treatment landscape evolves, pharmaceutical companies are increasingly focusing on combination therapies, novel targets, and addressing the limitations of current GLP-1 agonists. The race to develop safer, more effective, and patient-friendly obesity treatments continues to intensify, promising a future where weight management may be more tailored and comprehensive.