Diabetes News You Can Use
Novo Nordisk ends Hims & Hers deal over Wegovy copycats
Novo Nordisk has terminated its partnership with Hims & Hers due to concerns over the telehealth company’s continued sales and promotion of compounded, unapproved versions of the weight-loss drug Wegovy. Novo Nordisk stated that Hims & Hers did not comply with legal restrictions that prohibit mass sales of compounded drugs after the end of the official Wegovy shortage, criticizing the company for deceptive marketing and prioritizing patient safety as the main reason for ending the collaboration.
Full Story: CNBC (6/23)
Amgen’s obesity drug shows 20% weight loss in trial
Amgen’s obesity drug MariTide has shown promising results in a Phase 2 clinical trial, helping participants lose up to one-fifth of their body weight. The drug, which is taken monthly, combines a GLP-1 receptor agonist with a monoclonal antibody. The results, published in The New England Journal of Medicine and presented at the American Diabetes Association’s 85th Scientific Sessions, also indicate significant improvements in blood glucose levels and heart disease risk factors.
Full Story: NBC News (6/23)
Bimagrumab semaglutide combo yields weight loss, preserves muscle
The BELIEVE trial has shown that a combination of intravenous bimagrumab and subcutaneous semaglutide leads to significant weight loss and fat mass reduction without compromising lean mass. The study, presented at the American Diabetes Association’s 85th Scientific Sessions, involved 507 patients with obesity and demonstrated that the combination therapy resulted in more than 20% weight loss at 72 weeks, with bimagrumab 30 mg/kg and semaglutide 2.4 mg being the most effective.
Full Story: Healio (free registration) (6/23)
Mifepristone shows positive results in type 2 diabetes, hypercortisolism
The CATALYST trial has found that mifepristone significantly improves glucose control and reduces weight in patients with difficult-to-control type 2 diabetes and hypercortisolism. The study, presented at the American Diabetes Association’s 85th Scientific Sessions and published in Diabetes Care, showed that mifepristone lowered A1C by about 1.5% over 24 weeks compared with placebo, and revealed that 24% of patients with hard-to-manage diabetes have hypercortisolism.
Full Story: Healio (free registration) (6/23)
Semaglutide may cut PAD progression in T2D by 54%
A subanalysis of the STRIDE trial presented at the American Diabetes Association’s 85th Scientific Sessions found that semaglutide significantly reduces the progression of peripheral artery disease by 54% in patients with type 2 diabetes, independent of baseline glycemic control and BMI. “These findings indicate that clinicians can now recognize semaglutide as a vascular protective medication, with benefits that extend beyond lowering weight or A1C,” says cardiovascular surgeon Subodh Verma.
Full Story: HCPLive Network (6/21)
New GLP-1 treatment shows promise for weight loss
The novel GLP-1 receptor agonist ecnoglutide was associated with weight loss of 9.1% to 13.2% after 40 weeks in a Phase 3 trial with more than 600 participants with overweight or obesity, compared with 0.1% for those on placebo. The findings were presented at the American Diabetes Association’s 85th Scientific Sessions and published in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology.
Full Story: Medscape (6/21)
Cagrilintide plus semaglutide aids weight loss
The investigational drug cagrilintide combined with semaglutide led to significant weight loss in adults with obesity, with or without type 2 diabetes, according to two Phase 3a trials presented at the American Diabetes Association’s 85th Scientific Sessions and published in the New England Journal of Medicine.
Full Story: MedPage Today (free registration) (6/22)
Weekly basal insulin as effective as daily options
A Phase 3 study found that once-weekly insulin efsitora was as effective and safe as daily insulin glargine for people with type 2 diabetes. The findings were reported at the American Diabetes Association’s 85th Scientific Sessions and in The New England Journal of Medicine.
Full Story: MedPage Today (free registration) (6/22)
Obesity drug compounding persists despite FDA ending shortage
Although the FDA has declared Wegovy and Zepbound shortages over, telehealth companies like OrderlyMeds are still offering compounded versions by modifying ingredients to claim personalization, pushing the boundaries of FDA rules. Chris Spears of OrderlyMeds says he’s fine with his company eventually becoming unnecessary, adding, “I think the longer that the compounded option exists, the further the price gets driven down of the branded, which is overall just a good thing.”
Full Story: National Public Radio (6/12)
Higher glycemia linked to lower cognitive scores
Higher glycemic levels were modestly associated with poorer cognitive outcomes in people with type 2 diabetes, according to a study in JAMA Internal Medicine. The GRADE trial found no association between choice of glucose-lowering medications and cognitive performance after four years, but higher A1C levels were linked to lower scores on cognitive tests.
Full Story: Endocrinology Advisor (6/17)
Diabetes Research Center
Related News
Congratulations to this year’s funding awardees
Congratulations to this year’s funding awardees: Dr. Nicholas Chavkin and Dr. Stephen McCartney have been awarded Pilot and Feasibility awards and Ms. Jocelyn Cervantes has been awarded the Stroum Graduate Fellowship award.
NIDDK 75th Anniversary
In celebration of the 75th anniversary of NIDDK, Diabetes Care and Diabetes have published a compendium of ten articles that highlight just a few of the major contributions NIIDK has fostered through its support of research. These articles provide a broad, but clearly not complete, view of the results that have been achieved through their fostering of science across the country. Included amongst these is a paper by members of NIDDK about the research centers including the Diabetes Research Centers Program. There is also an editorial that celebrates NIDDK and at the same times raises concerns about the future of research and public health related to diabetes given the current discussion about the funding and restructuring of NIDDK and CDC.
DRC Affiliate Edward Boyko is Co-Chair of New Diabetes Atlas
DRC affiliate, Edward Boyko, professor (General Internal Medicine) is co-chair of the new edition of the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) Diabetes Atlas. As the number of people living with diabetes continues to rise, the latest IDF Diabetes Atlas emphasizes the urgent need for improved prevention, early detection and intervention to tackle the burden diabetes places on individuals, communities, health systems and economies.
Learn more on our news site.
CVTMC Director Karin Bornfeldt Announced as 2025 American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Fellow
The American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (ASBMB) announced that CVTMC Director Karin Bornfeldt, professor (Metabolism, Endocrinology and Nutrition), has been named among its 2025 class of fellows. Designation as a fellow recognizes commitment to the ASBMB through a history of exceptional and sustained service to the society as well as impactful accomplishments in research, education, mentorship, and service to the scientific community. Twenty-four fellows were selected this year. Read more here.
Affiliate Anne Manicone receives Pilot Award
Affiliate Anne Manicone, professor (Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine) received a Pilot Project Award, “Identifying Novel Compounds to Polarize Macrophages toward Reparative States,” from the parent P30 Grant, “Cystic Fibrosis Translational Research in the Post-CFTR Modulator Era,” funded by NIH/NIDDK. This 2-year award will provide $264,000 towards developing new strategies to target chronic inflammation seen in people with Cystic Fibrosis.