Amgen tests whether maritide interferes with birth control pills

Amgen has started a Phase 1 trial to find out whether maritide, a GLP-1 medication still in development, changes how the body absorbs and processes oral contraceptives. The study focuses on postmenopausal women living with overweight or obesity. This kind of research matters because doctors need to know about drug interactions before they can safely prescribe a new medication alongside common treatments like birth control pills. The trial is currently active but not recruiting new participants.

The trial, listed under clinical record NCT07523711, is designed to measure whether maritide interferes with how oral contraceptives are absorbed and processed in the body. Amgen is testing this in postmenopausal women with overweight or obesity, since this is one of the populations that may eventually receive the drug. Researchers want to understand if maritide changes contraceptive drug levels enough to reduce their effectiveness. This type of interaction study is a standard part of early drug development, and it helps establish prescribing guidance before a medication reaches a wider market. The findings will help doctors know whether patients on oral contraceptives need special monitoring or alternative guidance if they are prescribed maritide in the future.

This is an early-stage safety study, and it does not change access to any GLP-1 medication currently available. If you take oral contraceptives and are curious about maritide once it becomes available, it may help to keep this trial in mind for future conversations with your doctor. For now, there is nothing you need to do differently with your current prescriptions or your birth control plan.

By Amanda Bonello