Veru's Survey Reveals Muscle Loss Concerns Among GLP-1 Users as Enobosarm Development Progresses

Miami-based biopharmaceutical company Veru has conducted a survey highlighting significant concerns about muscle loss among users of GLP-1 receptor agonists (RAs), as the company continues to develop its lean mass-preserving medication, enobosarm. The survey results come amid growing interest in GLP-1 drugs for obesity treatment and underscore the potential market for complementary therapies addressing side effects.

Survey Findings and Patient Concerns

The survey, conducted in May, included 1,000 U.S. adults currently taking GLP-1 RAs. Key findings revealed that 36% of respondents rated their perceived risk of experiencing muscle loss or weakness as "moderate," "high," or "very high." While only 15% of all respondents reported actually experiencing muscle loss or weakness, this figure jumped to nearly one-third among participants aged 60 and older.

Veru CEO Mitchell Steiner, M.D., emphasized the significance of these results, stating, "It is evident that patients are aware of the substantial risk that GLP-1 RAs pose to their muscle mass and physical function." The company noted that muscle loss can take months or years to become noticeable, particularly in younger individuals, suggesting that the true incidence of this side effect may be underreported.

Patient Strategies and Healthcare Professional Role

Many survey respondents reported taking proactive measures to mitigate potential muscle wasting. Thirty-six percent said they follow a high-protein diet, while over half have increased their intake of lean proteins and other whole foods. Additionally, most participants engage in regular exercise, with nearly 40% specifically doing strength or resistance training.

The survey also highlighted the crucial role of healthcare professionals in patient education. With doctors cited as the most popular resource for information about GLP-1s, Veru encouraged healthcare providers to discuss muscle loss as a potential risk and educate patients about mitigation strategies.

Enobosarm Development and Clinical Results

Against this backdrop, Veru continues to advance the development of enobosarm, an oral selective androgen receptor modulator, as a potential solution for GLP-1-associated muscle loss. The company recently released Phase 2b study results showing promising outcomes when enobosarm was combined with Novo Nordisk's Wegovy.

The study demonstrated a statistically significant reduction in lean mass loss among participants taking the combination therapy. After 16 weeks, the enobosarm group experienced an average 1.2% reduction in lean mass, compared to a 4.1% reduction in those taking Wegovy alone. Additionally, the combination therapy was associated with greater total fat loss, a secondary endpoint of the study.

Veru has now requested a meeting with the FDA to plan a Phase 3 study for enobosarm. The company also announced results from a maintenance extension of the Phase 2b study, indicating that enobosarm "completely prevented fat regain and preserved lean mass in both enobosarm dose groups compared to placebo" 12 weeks after patients stopped taking Wegovy.

As the pharmaceutical industry continues to grapple with the challenges and opportunities presented by GLP-1 RAs in obesity treatment, Veru's survey and ongoing enobosarm development highlight the growing focus on comprehensive patient care and the management of treatment-related side effects.