Oleeplutide delivered an average weight loss of up to 19.3% at 48 weeks in the phase 3 LIGHTEN trial, with the weight-loss curve not yet at plateau, and mean waist circumference fell by up to 16.0 cm. Nausea and vomiting occurred at average rates of 7.8% and 4.9%. The data were presented at EASD 2026.
Eloralintide plus tirzepatide (Zepbound) produced 23.3% weight loss at the highest dose after 48 weeks, or 20.3% placebo-adjusted, in Phase IIb obese patients with Type II diabetes. The Eli Lilly combination beat both Novo's CagriSema and Lilly's own triple agonist retatrutide, in a population where weight loss is harder to show than in non-diabetic obesity.
Once-weekly survodutide, a glucagon receptor-GLP-1 receptor dual agonist, produced mean weight reductions of 8.2% at 3.6 mg and 9.8% at 6.0 mg over 76 weeks in 752 adults with type 2 diabetes and BMI of 27 or more, versus 3.9% with placebo. At least 5% weight loss occurred in 57.6% and 64.5% of the survodutide groups versus 35.1% on placebo, with glycated hemoglobin falling 0.9 and 0.8 percentage points. Gastrointestinal adverse events, mostly mild to moderate, occurred in 72.8% and 77.7% of survodutide recipients.
Orforglipron, an oral non-peptide GLP-1 receptor agonist, was non-inferior to insulin glargine for four-component major adverse cardiovascular events in 2749 adults with type 2 diabetes at increased cardiovascular risk: MACE-4 occurred in 57 (4·2%) of 1358 orforglipron participants versus 67 (5·0%) of 1343 insulin glargine participants (HR 0·84; 95% CI 0·59-1·20) over a median follow-up of 2 years. Clinically significant or severe hypoglycaemia was less frequent with orforglipron (93, 6·8%) than insulin glargine (260, 19·2%), while gastrointestinal adverse events were more frequent (62·1% vs 14·2%). The results establish cardiovascular safety for a non-peptide GLP-1 receptor agonist, a class not previously studied for this outcome.
Why it matters: First cardiovascular safety data for an oral non-peptide GLP-1 receptor agonist, a class not previously studied for cardiovascular outcomes.
The FDA approved the Autus Size-Adjustable Valve, developed by Autus Valve Technologies and approved via Edwards Lifesciences, for pediatric patients with congenital pulmonary valve disease. It is the first heart valve that can be expanded after implantation, growing from about 13 millimeters to up to 22 millimeters, and the first U.S.-approved valve with polymeric rather than animal-derived leaflets. Approval rests on a study of 62 pediatric patients at 12 U.S. sites, with no deaths or clot-related complications; longer-term studies are under way.
A randomized placebo-controlled trial in individuals with type 2 diabetes probed the kidney-protective mechanisms of semaglutide using kidney histology, multiparametric MRI and transcriptomics. The findings indicate how semaglutide acts on the kidney in this population, moving the evidence beyond its established glucose-lowering effect toward direct renal mechanisms.
Survodutide, Zealand and Boehringer Ingelheim's glucagon/GLP-1 receptor dual agonist, met both co-primary endpoints in the Phase 3 SYNCHRONIZE-2 trial but produced weight loss analysts view as uncompetitive: up to 9.8% weight reduction at the highest 6 mg dose under the NEJM treatment regimen estimand at 76 weeks, versus 3.9% for placebo, and 79.3% of 775 patients lost at least 5% of body weight. About 18% discontinued due to gastrointestinal adverse events. Zealand shares fell more than 8% to $248.50. BMO analysts pointed to fat-mass effects, including 34% visceral fat loss and a 63.1% liver fat drop in SYNCHRONIZE-1, as a possible niche.
Why it matters: Second Phase 3 readout for survodutide shows weight loss lagging rivals, moving the drug's prospects toward fat-mass-specific benefits.
FDA placed Chengdu Shengnuo Pharmaceutical, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Shanghai STAR-listed peptide maker Shengnuo Biology, on Import Alert 66-40 on September 19, without first issuing a warning letter, meaning its products can be detained at US customs without inspection. The company disclosed the move on September 22. The action comes as US federal enforcers penalize a large Houston compounding pharmacy for GLP-1 weight-loss drugs and attorneys general from 20 states jointly press for tighter controls on GLP-1 compounders.
Novo Nordisk has in-licensed ex-China rights to a once-weekly oral dual agonist of GLP1R and GIPR from Jiangsu Hengrui Pharmaceuticals for $300 million up front, in one of the largest preclinical deals to date. The compound is intended for obesity, a core therapeutic area Novo Nordisk is building out through a series of deals this year. Hengrui continues its run of MNC partnerships.
A permissive mean arterial pressure target in hypotensive, invasively ventilated children did not change a composite of 30-day mortality and ventilation duration versus usual care (probabilistic index, 0.52; P = .23), while cutting median norepinephrine-equivalent total dose by 37.5%. The trial randomized 1900 patients across 23 PICUs in 3 countries. Kidney replacement therapy, adverse events and most secondary outcomes were similar, though surviving children left the PICU sooner (median 159 vs 166 hours). Clinicians can accept lower MAP targets and reduce vasoactive exposure without worsening outcomes.
Eli Lilly's phase 3 TRIUMPH-1 trial of retatrutide enrolled 2339 adults with obesity but no diabetes. At 80 weeks, mean body weight fell 25.0%, 23.7%, and 17.6% in the 12 mg, 9 mg, and 4 mg groups respectively, all significantly better than 3.9% with placebo (P<0.001).
Why it matters: The phase 3 trial reported weight, knee osteoarthritis pain, and sleep apnea endpoints at 80 weeks, allowing direct comparison of triple-receptor agonist benefits in obesity with comorbidities within one trial.
Once-daily oral safiglipron reduced HbA1c by 1.20 to 1.45 percentage points versus placebo at 32 weeks in 284 adults with early type 2 diabetes managed with diet and exercise alone (OUTSTAND-1, phase 3). HbA1c below 7.0% was reached by 71.4-77.8% of safiglipron recipients versus 25.0% on placebo, with modest weight loss and mostly mild or moderate gastrointestinal adverse events. It offers an oral GLP-1 receptor agonist option taken without fasting or dietary restrictions.
Eli Lilly's retatrutide met the 80-week bodyweight primary endpoint in the phase 3 TRIUMPH-2 trial in patients with obesity and type 2 diabetes: mean weight change from baseline was -11.9% with 4 mg, -16.8% with 9 mg, and -18.8% with 12 mg, versus -5.1% with placebo, with estimated treatment differences for all three doses p<0.0001.
Why it matters: Reports dose-graded weight loss and gastrointestinal adverse event rates in a type 2 diabetes population where weight loss is usually harder, allowing comparison with other GLP-1 agents.
The FDA has expanded Bristol Myers Squibb's Camzyos (mavacamten) indication to cover symptomatic obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in adults and paediatric patients weighing at least 30kg. The decision rests on the Phase III SCOUT-HCM trial in 44 adolescents aged 12 to under 18, where the cardiac myosin inhibitor significantly reduced Valsalva LVOT gradient at week 28 versus placebo with no new safety concerns. Camzyos, first approved in 2022 and now cleared in more than 60 countries, is in discussions with other regulators for paediatric approvals.
The study appears in Science, Volume 394, Issue 6819 (October 2026), titled "Hypertension fuels osteoarthritis through neuroendocrine signaling," and reports that hypertension worsens osteoarthritis through neuroendocrine signaling. The material contains only the title and publication details; no abstract, model, or mechanism details are provided.
Why it matters: The finding links hypertension to osteoarthritis via neuroendocrine signaling and can serve as background for research on cardiometabolic and degenerative joint comorbidity.
A study published in Science identifies the mitochondrial carrier SLC25A34 as a molecular node connecting circadian clock, diet, and temperature signals to regulate lipid cycling in adipocytes. The paper appears in Science, Volume 394, Issue 6819 (October 2026), DOI 10.1126/science.adz4797.
Why it matters: The study identifies SLC25A34 as a node integrating clock, diet, and temperature signals over adipocyte lipid cycling, providing a molecular handle on metabolic rhythmicity.
Hengrui Medicine has licensed HRS-1596, a potential once-weekly oral GLP-1/GIP dual receptor agonist it developed in-house, to Novo Nordisk. Novo Nordisk receives exclusive rights to develop, manufacture and commercialize HRS-1596 outside greater China. The deal is worth up to $2.6 billion, including a $300 million upfront payment plus development, regulatory and commercialization milestone payments.
Edwards' EVOQUE transcatheter tricuspid valve replacement system, the first such system to hold both CE marking and FDA approval, has received special access in China and completed its first clinical uses at Beijing's Fuwai Hospital. The system offers an interventional option for patients with severe tricuspid regurgitation, including elderly patients with multiple comorbidities or high surgical risk. Broader use in Chinese patients is expected to follow.
The FDA approved Camzyos (mavacamten) as the first treatment to improve functional capacity and symptoms in children with symptomatic obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, extending approval to pediatric patients weighing at least 30 kg, after adult approval in 2022. Efficacy was supported by the phase 3 SCOUT-HCM trial in 44 patients aged 12-18, where once-daily dosing for 28 weeks significantly reduced the Valsalva LVOT gradient versus placebo. The drug carries a boxed warning for heart failure risk and is available only through the Camzyos REMS program.
Eight weeks of sofosbuvir-velpatasvir was similar in efficacy to the standard 12-week regimen in treatment-naive, non-cirrhotic patients with chronic hepatitis C in the RESOLVE multicentre, open-label, non-inferiority, randomised controlled trial in India. The finding supports shortening treatment duration in this population.
