Metabolic health is at an odd juncture. With the advent of glucagon-like peptide (GLP-1) agonists, pharmacologically induced weight loss has matured into a viable therapeutic option at long last. And research into the drug class is continuing apace.

A phase II trial this week showed that combining the diabetes drug semaglutide (Novo Nordisk A/S) with a fixed-dose combination of Cagrisema (cagrilintide/semaglutide) led to “numerically higher” reductions in both HbA1c and body weight than either component alone. And on the preclinical side, researchers from the Novo Nordisk Research Center and the Helmholtz Diabetes Center reported that linking the dual PPAR activator tesaglitazar to GLP-1 improved glucose control in male mice. Both bits of news illustrate that GLP-1R agonists, which are also called incretin mimetics and GLP-1 analogs, are likely to continue their success across multiple areas of medical care.

Teleflex Inc. is going big on its investment in the business of helping people reduce their size with an agreement to acquire Standard Bariatrics Inc. for an upfront cash payment of $170 million with contingent payments of $130 million upon achievement of specified commercial milestones. The companies expect to close the transaction early in the fourth quarter of 2022. Standard Bariatrics produces a novel clamp and staple system for gastric sleeve surgery, the Titan sleeve gastrectomy stapler (SGS).

Carmot Therapeutics Inc. has raised $160 million in series D financing to support a trio of early to midstage clinical programs focused on treating diabetes and obesity with peptide-based small-molecule incretin receptor modulators.

Investigators at Stanford University and Baylor College of Medicine have identified an exercise-induced appetite suppressant that led to weight loss when administered to obese mice. The molecule, Lac-Phe, has led to predictable excitement around the possibility of appetite-suppressing exercise in a pill.

Eli Lilly and Co.'s tirzepatide, a high-profile entrant in the global anti-obesity race, hit a key milestone, becoming the first investigational medicine to deliver more than 20% weight loss on average for non-diabetics in a phase III study, said Jeff Emmick, vice president of product development at the company.

A study by researchers led by David James from the University of Sydney showcases the diversity in metabolic responses observed across different mouse strains exposed to two different diets that demonstrates the heritability of metabolic traits.

Apollo Endosurgery Inc. presented strong results from its endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty study with patients achieving an excess body weight loss of 49.2% at 12 months and the great majority maintaining that loss for two years. Serious adverse events occurred in 2% of patients and all resolved without intensive care or surgical intervention.

Shares of Cohbar Inc. (NASDAQ:CWBR) hit a 52-week high on Aug. 11 following news that a mitochondrial peptide analogue it is testing for the potential treatment of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and obesity, CB-4211, delivered "robust" improvements in key biomarkers of liver damage and glucose levels vs. placebo during a small phase Ia/Ib study.