Diabetes drug liraglutide shows promise for weight loss and improved heart health
Early testing on diabetes drug liraglutide showed that patients experienced significant reduction in weight and improved cardiovascular risk factors while taking the medication.
Results of the study were presented at the joint meeting of the International Society of Endocrinology and the Endocrine Society in Chicago.
According to Carel Le Roux, MD, PhD, of the Diabetes Complications Research Centre at University College Dublin, if the improvements seen in the study continue over time, individuals taking liraglutide might have a lower risk of heart disease.
Long-term weight management
Liraglutide is undergoing testing to be used at a low-dose for long-term weight management. Currently, the drug isn't approved for weight loss.
Yet the study, which involved 3,731 nondiabetic obese or overweight adults, found that individuals treated with liraglutide lost 5.4 percent more of their body weight and nearly 1.7 more inches around the waist than those who received a placebo.
Patients receiving liraglutide also experienced more improvements in blood pressure and increased levels of "good" HDL cholesterol.
"Current obesity treatment options are limited," Le Roux said. "There is a need for new treatment options for people who struggle with obesity and obesity-related diseases that can help in reducing their weight."
Researchers found that 3-mg doses of liraglutide had a similar safety profile to that found in previous trials using liraglutide to treat type-2 diabetics.
Source: Endocrine Society
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