Regeneron drug halves muscle loss with Novo's semaglutide in trial
REGN•Regeneron’s experimental drug trevogrumab, combined with Novo Nordisk’s semaglutide, reduced muscle loss by 50% compared with semaglutide alone in a study of patients with obesity. At 26 weeks, patients receiving 75 milligrams of trevogrumab lost 3.3% of lean muscle mass, versus 6.7% with semaglutide alone.
1. Muscle loss results
In a study of nearly 1,000 patients ages 18 to 65, adding trevogrumab to semaglutide reduced the loss of lean muscle mass. MRI measurements showed that 75 milligrams of trevogrumab preserved more than 70% of muscle mass loss compared with semaglutide alone at 52 weeks; at 26 weeks, muscle loss was 3.3% with the combination and 6.7% with semaglutide alone.
2. Next trial plans
Regeneron selected a once-weekly 75-milligram dose for further studies and plans another mid-stage trial in patients over 65. The company said muscle mass returned to its pre-study level when patients stopped semaglutide but continued trevogrumab.
3. Combination safety
Trevogrumab alone had a safety profile similar to semaglutide, with no unexpected side effects, the company said. Two participants receiving higher doses of trevogrumab with Regeneron’s garetosmab died during the first 26 weeks; the company said the triple combination also had a high rate of adverse effects, including muscle spasms, and it will not move forward with it.
