A NEW drug developed to combat diabetes and obesity melts fat at double the rate of other GLP-1 drugs, scientists say.
The injection is also quicker and cheaper to produce than currently available medications like Ozempic or Mounjaro.
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Ecnoglutide is a new GLP-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1 RA) similar to semaglutide, the active ingredient used in diabetes jab Mounjaro and weight loss treatment Wegovy.
The once weekly injection is as effective as other type 2 diabetes medications – such as commonly prescribed dulaglutide – at lowering blood sugar levels in patients, a trial showed.
But the study – published in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology journal – showed that ecnoglutide was more effective than dulaglutide, also a GLP-1, for weight loss.
Type 2 diabetics taking ecnoglutide lost nearly twice as much weight during the study compared to those taking dulaglutide.
Read more on weight loss jabs
Ecnoglutide and dulaglutide have both been developed to help people with type 2 diabetes manage their blood sugar levels.
They act on the same receptor in the body, known as the GLP-1 receptor, which regulates blood sugar levels and appetite.
Ecnoglutide is what’s known as a “biased GLP-1 RA” as it targets specific pathways in the body that enhance insulin production and lower blood sugar, while avoiding another pathway that can sometimes reduce the receptor’s activity.
Dulaglutide, on the other hand, targets both pathways, which can help control blood sugar but may lead to the receptor being less responsive over time.
Researchers from Fudan University and Hangzhou Sciwind Biosciences in China compared the two in terms of weight loss and blood sugar control.
“The findings from this study, along with previous preclinical and
clinical evidence, highlight ecnoglutide [as a] novel and effective treatment for type 2 diabetes,” they said.
“These results suggest that ecnoglutide might help to
address certain unmet needs in type 2 diabetes management
and represent a potential advance in diabetes therapy.”
“Ecnoglutide is the first biased GLP-1 receptor agonist to enter phase 3 trials, potentially offering improved glycaemic control and weight management while addressing manufacturing challenges,” researchers added.
In phase 3 trials, a new treatment is tested on a large group of participants to confirm its effectiveness and monitor for side effects.
The 52-week study focused on over 600 adults with type 2 diabetes, gathered from 52 hospitals in China.
Participants were aged between 18 and 75 years, had a BMI of 20 to 35, had been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes for at least three months, and had been treated with metformin – a common diabetes drug.
They were randomly assigned once-weekly ecnoglutide or dulaglutide injections.
Those on ecnoglutide saw their average blood sugar drop by about 1.9 per cent.
Those on dulaglutide saw a 1.65 per cent drop.
Everything you need to know about fat jabs
Weight loss jabs are all the rage as studies and patient stories reveal they help people shed flab at almost unbelievable rates, as well as appearing to reduce the risk of serious diseases.
Wegovy – a modified version of type 2 diabetes drug Ozempic – and Mounjaro are the leading weight loss injections used in the UK.
Wegovy, real name semaglutide, has been used on the NHS for years while Mounjaro (tirzepatide) is a newer and more powerful addition to the market.
Mounjaro accounts for most private prescriptions for weight loss and is set to join Wegovy as an NHS staple this year.
How do they work?
The jabs work by suppressing your appetite, making you eat less so your body burns fat for energy instead and you lose weight.
They do this my mimicking a hormone called GLP-1, which signals to the brain when the stomach is full, so the drugs are officially called GLP-1 receptor agonists.
They slow down digestion and increase insulin production, lowering blood sugar, which is why they were first developed to treat type 2 diabetes in which patients’ sugar levels are too high.
Can I get them?
NHS prescriptions of weight loss drugs, mainly Wegovy and an older version called Saxenda (chemical name liraglutide), are controlled through specialist weight loss clinics.
Typically a patient will have to have a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher, classifying them as medically obese, and also have a weight-related health condition such as high blood pressure.
GPs generally do not prescribe the drugs for weight loss.
Private prescribers offer the jabs, most commonly Mounjaro, to anyone who is obese (BMI of 30+) or overweight (BMI 25-30) with a weight-related health risk.
Private pharmacies have been rapped for handing them out too easily and video calls or face-to-face appointments are now mandatory to check a patient is being truthful about their size and health.
Are there any risks?
Yes – side effects are common but most are relatively mild.
Around half of people taking the drug experience gut issues, including sickness, bloating, acid reflux, constipation and diarrhoea.
Dr Sarah Jarvis, GP and clinical consultant at patient.info, said: “One of the more uncommon side effects is severe acute pancreatitis, which is extremely painful and happens to one in 500 people.”
Other uncommon side effects include altered taste, kidney problems, allergic reactions, gallbladder problems and hypoglycemia.
Evidence has so far been inconclusive about whether the injections are damaging to patients’ mental health.
Figures obtained by The Sun show that, up to January 2025, 85 patient deaths in the UK were suspected to be linked to the medicines.
People taking ecnoglutide also lost nearly twice as much weight as those on dulaglutide.
Their body weight dropped by an average of 5.2 to 5.7 per cent.
Meanwhile, dulaglutide takers lost an average of 2.8 per cent.
Study authors say the additional weight loss seen in those taking ecnoglutide can further help diabetes management and reduce risks of heart disease.
Ecnoglutide was generally well-tolerated, with the most common side effects being mild stomach issues, such as nausea and diarrhoea, which typically eased over time.
Study authors also noted that ecnoglutide is simpler to produce than other GLP-1 RAs, meaning it could be manufactured more quickly and at a lower cost than other weight loss medications currently available.
“The manufacturing process for ecnoglutide involves fewer
steps and is less complex than that for semaglutide,” researchers said.
But they said further studies are needed to explore its efficacy across diverse populations and in combination with other anti-diabetic drugs.
Earlier this month, drug maker Eli Lilly announced it would hike up the price of its weight loss jab Mounjaro from September 1, meaning the price of the drug in UK private clinics will almost double.
Patients have been scrambling to get their hands on the jabs before the price rise comes into force, while others are considering switching to the competitor Wegovy – after its maker Novo Nordisk said it wouldn’t be raising prices.
Meanwhile, it was revealed that some patients taking Mounjaro privately may be able to get NHS prescriptions for it, as long as they meet key criteria.
