Orforglipron

iStock, MarLei Post hoc analyses in women divided by menopausal status show how Novo’s next-generation GLP-1 drug affects key cohorts of patients. Novo has reported 25% weight loss in women taking CagriSema, largely replicating data on Eli Lilly’s rival drug in post hoc analyses that subdivided patients by menopausal status. Multiple studies have found that women lose more weight than men on GLP-1 receptor agonists. Novo’s post hoc analysis of REDEFINE 1, a Phase 3 trial in adults with obesity or overweight, added to the evidence. Having reported 22.7% weight loss after 68 weeks in the overall population, Novo this week revealed that women in the trial who took the injectable medicine lost 25% of their body weight over the same period. Novo shared the analysis at The Menopause Society 2026 Annual Meeting in San Diego. The analysis, which included 2,309 women, assumed all patients adhered to treatment. Participants on placebo lost 3% of their body weight. The Danish drugmaker presented a second analysis of 1,902 women based on their stage of menopause, which is associated with obesity. Average weight loss was highest in premenopausal women, who shed 26.7% of their body weight by week 68. Average weight loss in peri- and postmenopausal women was 24.8% and 23.1%, respectively. Weight loss on placebo in the three subgroups ranged from 1.7% to 2.6%. Obesity Should amylin have been obesity therapeutics’ primary target from the start? While GLP-1 medicines have become synonymous with weight loss, at least one expert thinks amylin would have been the go-to target if biopharma had been focused on the blockbuster indication 10 years ago. A new wave of therapies is now exploring this potentially gentler mechanism. October 19, 2026 · 5 min read · Heather McKenzie Read more Novo’s findings echo data on tirzepatide, the GLP-1/GIP receptor agonist that Lilly sells as Mounjaro for diabetes and Zepbound for weight loss. In 2024, Lilly reported that women enrolled in its SURMOUNT clinical trials lost up to 24.6% of their body weight, compared to up to 18.1% for their male counterparts. A subsequent analysis looked at weight loss by menopausal stage in two of the SURMOUNT trials. At week 72 of SURMOUNT-3, Lilly reported weight loss in pre-, peri- and postmenopausal women of 25.5%, 24.4% and 21.5%, respectively. Lilly saw weight loss of 29.4% in pre- and perimenopausal women in SURMOUNT-4, although that was a week 88 analysis. Weight loss typically increases over time. In June, Lilly shared week 72 data on Foundayo, its oral GLP-1 drug, in peri- and postmenopausal women. Weight loss was lower on Foundayo than on CagriSema, peaking at 14.4% in perimenopausal women. The finding is in line with results showing that oral GLP-1s deliver lower weight loss than injectables in general. Lilly’s retatrutide could be CagriSema’s most direct competitor, with both drug candidates nearing FDA approval and achieving deeper weight loss than existing GLP-1 receptor agonists in clinical trials. Lilly has yet to share analyses of retatrutide’s effects by menopausal stage.

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va., and SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., Oct. 19, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Rivus Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on advancing cardiometabolic health, today announced the presentation of preclinical NHP obesity data from RV-8451, a novel, muscle-preserving, oral small molecule GLP-1 receptor agonist at The Obesity Society’s 44 th Annual Meeting at ObesityWeek ® 2026 being held November 14-17, 2026 in Washington, DC. “We are excited to present preclinical data for RV-8451, the first oral GLP-1 that has demonstrated muscle preservation,” said Shaharyar Khan, PhD, Chief Scientific Officer of Rivus Pharmaceuticals. “The data we are presenting at ObesityWeek ® build on our prior data and reinforce RV-8451's potential to deliver fat-specific weight loss while preserving muscle, which has not yet been achieved before with a GLP-1. We look forward to submitting our IND for RV-8451 in chronic weight management in the first quarter of 2027 to advance our highly-differentiated GLP-1 into the clinic.” Presentation details are as follows: ObesityWeek ® , November 14-17, 2026 in Washington, DC Abstract Title : RV-8451, a Pre-Clinical, Muscle-Preserving GLP-1R NPA, Outperforms Orforglipron in Obesity Models Room: Gaylord National Resort & Convention Ctr: Exhibit Hall BCD Format : Poster Presenter : Sol Collado, PhD, Executive Director, Drug Discovery, Rivus Pharmaceuticals Presentation Date and Time: Saturday, November 14, 2026, 7:30 - 8:30 p.m. ET Abstract Title : Rescuing Lean Mass: GLP-1R NPA RV-8451 Reverses Orforglipron-Induced Muscle Loss in DIO Mouse Model Room: Gaylord National Resort & Convention Ctr: Exhibit Hall BCD Format : Poster Presenter : Shaharyar Khan, PhD, Chief Scientific Officer, Rivus Pharmaceuticals Presentation Date and Time: Sunday, November 15, 2026, 2:30 - 3:30 p.m. ET Abstract Title : Beyond Caloric Restriction: RV-8451 GLP-1R NPA Drives Fat-Specific Weight Loss in a DIO Mouse Model Room: Gaylord National Resort & Convention Ctr: Exhibit Hall BCD Format : Poster Presenter : Melissa Luse, Senior Research Scientist, Rivus Pharmaceuticals Presentation Date and Time: Sunday, November 15, 2026, 2:30 - 3:30 p.m. ET Poster session details are available from ObesityWeek’s Online Planner . Following the sessions, a copy of the presentation and poster will be accessible under “Publications” in the Pipeline section of Rivus’ website . About RV-8451 RV-8451 is Rivus’ highly-differentiated, oral, small molecule GLP-1 receptor agonist in preclinical development for obesity. RV-8451 is the first muscle-preserving, oral non-peptide GLP-1 agonist, designed to deliver high-quality, fat-selective, durable weight loss with convenient oral dosing. Rivus plans to submit an Investigational New Drug (IND) application to advance RV-8451 into a Phase 1 clinical trial in obesity. About Rivus Pharmaceuticals Rivus Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on advancing cardiometabolic health. The company’s lead candidate, HU6, is a potential best-in-class oral therapeutic to treat MASH currently advancing in the Phase 2 AMPLIFY trial. Rivus is also advancing RV-8451, the first muscle-preserving, oral GLP-1, in preclinical development to treat obesity. Rivus’ proprietary platform is focused on developing oral medicines that are designed to deliver improved and sustained cardiometabolic health. Follow Rivus on LinkedIn and X and visit . CONTACT: Company Contact: Amy Figueroa, CFA Rivus Pharmaceuticals afigueroa@rivuspharma.com