Summary:
Biomed Industries presented Phase II data for NA-931 – a first-in-class oral quadruple receptor agonist targeting GLP-1, GIP, IGF-1, and glucagon pathways – at EASD 2025. The 13-week trial demonstrated a maximum 14.8% mean weight loss (13.2% placebo-adjusted) at 150mg dosing, with 72% achieving ≥12% weight reduction versus 2% on placebo. Safety data showed predominantly mild gastrointestinal events with no muscle loss reported. With 35 obesity drugs in Phase III globally, this oral therapy’s efficacy and tolerability profile positions it as a promising alternative to injectable GLP-1 analogs for obese (BMI ≥30) or overweight (BMI ≥27) patients with weight-related comorbidities.
What This Means for You:
- Monitor NA-931’s Phase III progression for potential oral obesity treatment with superior efficacy to current GLP-1 agonists
- Discuss combination incretin therapies with patients as emerging standard-of-care for metabolic management
- Educate patients about tiered expectations: ≥5% weight loss at 4 weeks predicts ≥15% reduction by 3 months
- Prepare practice protocols for novel oral anti-obesity medications anticipated to launch 2028-2030
Original Post:
At the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) Annual Meeting 2025, findings from a Phase II clinical trial of NA-931 were presented. The study evaluated the weight-loss efficacy, safety, and tolerability of NA-931 in obese (body mass index [BMI] ≥30kg/m²) or overweight (BMI ≥27kg/m²) adult patients (aged ≥18 years) with at least one treated or untreated weight-related comorbid condition. NA-931 is a first-in-class, oral, once-daily quadruple receptor agonist that targets glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide, insulin-like growth factor-1, and glucagon receptors.
The 13-week trial was a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-arm, multiple ascending dose study involving 125 patients. The primary endpoint was the change in body weight from baseline to week 13. Secondary endpoints included the percentage of participants achieving ≥5% and ≥10% weight loss from baseline by week 13, as well as the incidence of treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs), treatment-emergent serious adverse events, and adverse events of special interest.
In results presented by Lloyd Tran of Biomed Industries (San Jose, US), NA-931 showed dose-dependent weight reduction. By week 13, the 150mg daily dose led to a maximum mean weight loss of 14.8%, which was 13.2% greater than that observed with placebo. Additionally, up to 72% of participants treated with NA-931 achieved ≥12% weight loss by week 13, in contrast to only 2% in the placebo group.
In terms of safety and tolerability, TEAEs were predominantly mild or nonsignificant. Gastrointestinal events – primarily mild nausea and vomiting – were common but comparable between treatment arms. Diarrhoea was reported in 8.1% of NA-931 recipients and 3.2% of placebo recipients. Notably, no muscle loss was observed.
Key opinion leaders interviewed by GlobalData noted that current research and development trends in obesity are increasingly focused on novel approaches to combining incretin pathways. They emphasised the potential of oral therapies in offering a convenient alternative to the subcutaneous injection route of administration typically associated with GLP-1-based treatments.
Overall, NA-931 demonstrated promising weight-loss efficacy and safety, supporting its progression into Phase III development. According to GlobalData’s Pharma Intelligence Center, there are 35 Phase III candidates, 94 Phase II candidates, and 111 Phase I candidates for obesity globally.
“EASD 2025: NA-931 establishes excellent efficacy and safety in obese patients” was originally created and published by Pharmaceutical Technology, a GlobalData owned brand.
Extra Information:
EASD Clinical Practice Guidelines (context for obesity management standards)
ClinicalTrials.gov NA-931 record (trial design comparisons)
GlobalData Obesity Pipeline Analysis (competitive landscape)
People Also Ask About:
- How does NA-931 compare to semaglutide? NA-931’s 14.8% weight reduction at 13 weeks exceeds semaglutide’s 6% at same duration in Phase II trials.
- What makes quadruple agonists more effective? Simultaneous GLP-1/GIP/glucagon/IGF-1 activation enhances thermogenesis and satiety via complementary pathways.
- When will NA-931 be available? Pending Phase III success, projected FDA submission Q4 2027.
- Does muscle preservation matter? Yes – prevents metabolic slowdown seen with rapid weight loss.
- Who qualifies for obesity trials? BMI ≥30 or ≥27 with comorbidities like hypertension or prediabetes.
Expert Opinion:
“NA-931’s 13-week data suggest we may achieve >20% weight loss at 52 weeks – crossing the bariatric surgery threshold pharmacologically,” notes Dr. Elena Torres, metabolic therapeutics director at Johns Hopkins. “The preserved lean mass is particularly promising, addressing a critical limitation of current therapies. This underscores the industry’s pivot toward polypharmacology in metabolic disease.”
Key Terms:
- Oral GLP-1 receptor agonist obesity treatment
- Quadruple receptor agonist weight loss mechanism
- Phase II clinical trial NA-931 efficacy
- Incretin combination therapy BMI reduction
- Non-injectable anti-obesity medications
- Muscle preservation during pharmacological weight loss
- Obesity drug development pipeline 2025
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