Amgen's next GLP-1 candidate starts its biggest human test yet

Amgen's obesity pipeline reached two milestones this week. One trial is preparing to test a new version of its GLP-1 candidate, maridebart cafraglutide, while another has just wrapped up comparing three existing weekly weight loss shots. For anyone weighing options in a crowded weight loss drug market, these studies matter because they help determine which treatments actually work best and whether new alternatives can compete with what's already available.

The new trial focuses on a single question: how does the body absorb two different formulations of maridebart cafraglutide after one dose. Amgen is enrolling 340 participants to find out, with the study set to begin in October 2026. This kind of trial, known as a pharmacokinetic study, does not test whether the drug works for weight loss. Instead, it measures how a drug moves through the bloodstream, which helps Amgen decide which formulation to carry forward into further testing. If the results show a clear difference between the two versions, that could shape which one Amgen advances toward eventual approval.

That contrasts with the phase 3 trial Amgen completed, which set out to compare three different weekly GLP-1 injections directly in people without diabetes. This trial has already finished collecting data, though the results have not yet been released. Because all three drugs were tested in the same population under similar conditions, the findings should offer a clearer picture of which option produces the most weight loss. Head-to-head comparisons like this are less common than trials that test a single drug against a placebo, so the results may carry particular weight for patients and doctors deciding among current treatments.

If you are currently using a weekly GLP-1 medication or considering one, it may be worth watching for the results of this completed phase 3 comparison once they are released. They could clarify how your current option stacks up against alternatives on the market. The maridebart cafraglutide trial, on the other hand, is still years away from producing information relevant to patient choice, since it is only testing how the drug is absorbed. I would suggest checking back for updates on both studies rather than making any changes based on early trial announcements alone, and talk with your doctor about what these developments might mean for your own treatment plan.

By Amanda Bonello