Key Points
Mazdutide has been approved in China but is yet to gain approval in the UK - estimated approval in late 2026/2027
Side effects are predominantly GI related (nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea)
Mazdutide is a dual treatment: GLP-1 and GCGR
Up to 21% weight loss in trial participants
Improvements seen in blood sugar, liver fat content and waist circumference.
How does Mazdutide work?
Mazdutide is a dual agonist peptide : a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and glucagon receptor (GCGR).This means it works on two hormone pathways in the body, designed to produce a greater weight loss than a GLP-1 alone.
GLP-1: Helps to keep you full, quicker, for longer.
GCGR: Has been shown to reduce body weight and blood glucose levels.
Mazdutide has been trialed in patients with diabetes and has been shown to reduce HbA1c. As well as this, a study observed that 9mg of Mazdutide significantly reduced liver fat content and also a significant reduction in waist circumference.
How effective is Mazdutide?
In early phase trials, doses up to 16mg were administered in adults with overweight or obesity. After 20 weeks, there was a significant amount of weight loss achieved by those in the medication group in comparison to those who administered a placebo.
|
1 (n=12) | 20% | 66.7% | 12% |
2 (n=12) | 21% | 75% | 17% |
3 (n=8) | 0.1% | - | 0.8% |
In another trial, consisting of 610 participants, the results demonstrated a clear superior.
|
4mg | 10.09% | 73.9% | 11% | 35.7% |
6mg | 12.55% | 82% | 14.01% | 49.5% |
Placebo | 0.45% | 10.5% | 0.3% | 2.0% |
What are the side effects of Mazdutide?
Mazdutide has a similar side effect profile to some of the weight loss medications you may already be familiar with.
Gastrointestinal side effects are the most common. These include:
Upper respiratory tract infections were also reported in some participants. However, this was seen across all participant groups, including the placebo group.
Who would not be suitable for Mazdutide
Mazdutide is currently under development and new information regarding this treatment, including who it will be suitable for, has not yet been confirmed. Based on what we know about GLP-1s, Mazdutide will not be suitable for:
Pregnant or breastfeeding women
Those who have plans to become pregnant in the near future
Individuals who have a personal or family history of medullary thyroid cancer or multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2 (MEN2)
A history of pancreatitis
Active gallstones or issues with your gallbladder