Alveus Therapeutics Inc. has obtained IND clearance from the FDA for ALV-100, for chronic weight management, enabling initiation of a phase Ib study. Dosing has now commenced in the study.
There are two significant messages for companies developing and profiting from obesity drugs in a meta-analysis of clinical trials examining the extent of weight regain after treatment stops. First, people taking obesity medication regain weight four times faster on average than those who lose weight through behavioral diet and exercise programs; and second, poor tolerability leads to poor adherence.