Amgen is among a crowded field of drugmakers racing to develop the next blockbuster weight loss drug — but it's taking an entirely different approach than its rivals.
It's also unclear whether Amgen's treatments will be cheaper than the existing weight loss drugs, which cost around $1,000 per month. But while Zepbound activates a second hormone receptor called GIP, Amgen's drug blocks it. Wegovy does not target GIP, which suppresses appetite like GLP-1 but may also improve how the body breaks down sugar and fat.
Patients who received a single shot of the highest dose of MariTide lost up to 8.2% of their body weight after 92 days. That suggests a single injection of the drug has a prolonged weight loss effect, according to the study authors. Amgen's trial used monthly dosing in part because patients saw sustained weight loss whether they had a single injection or multiple shots of the company's drug, according to the study authors.
But he noted that a patient's choice may also depend on whether the level of weight loss and side effects of Amgen's drug end up being on par with those of the existing weekly injections.