PHOENIX — Liraglutide, an investigational drug given once a day, produced significantly more weight loss than orlistat in a randomized, 20-week, placebo-controlled trial conducted in obese patients who for the most part were not diabetic.
Participants on four different doses of liraglutide—1.2, 1.8, 2.4, and 3.0 mg—tested in the study lost significantly more weight, compared with a control group on placebo. Those treated at the two highest doses (2.4 and 3.0 mg per day) lost significantly more weight than did those given 120 mg of orlistat (Xenical) three times a day.
The mean weight loss ranged from 4.8 kg with the lowest 1.2-mg dose of liraglutide to 7.2 kg with the 3.0-mg dose, according to the investigators. The mean weight loss for placebo was little more than 2 kg and about 4 kg with orlistat.
Dr. Arne Astrup, the lead author and head of the department of human nutrition at the University of Copenhagen, described results of the six-arm, 564-patient study in an oral presentation at the annual scientific meeting of NAASO, the Obesity Society. Novo Nordisk A/S sponsored the trial.
Nearly two-thirds of the participants in the current study did not have diabetes; most of the rest were classified with prediabetes, leaving about 3% with the disease. About three-quarters of the population were women, and the average age was in the mid-40s (range 18–65 years). Body mass index ranged from 30 kg/m
The proportion of participants who lost 5% or more of body weight was 44% with orlistat but ranged from 54% to 76% with the liraglutide doses; and 28% of those on the highest dose lost more than 10% of their body weight. The most common adverse events were nausea and vomiting.
Dr. Astrup disclosed being a consultant to Novo Nordisk and receiving support for serving on advisory boards relative to liraglutide. The investigators also included Novo Nordisk employees, one of whom was a shareholder in the company, and other scientists who had received financial support and/or served on advisory boards.