Regeneron co-founder warns of harms from weight-loss drugs: FT

The co-founder of biotech firm Regeneron Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:REGN) said in a newspaper interview that popular weight-loss drugs could be harmful to people who lose too much muscle mass that’s seen as helpful in keeping the weight off. His company is currently testing medicines to preserve muscle mass.

The weight-loss drugs known as GLP-1s have been shown in clinical studies to cause muscle loss that exceeds what people lose when they try shedding pounds through diet or exercise.

This muscle loss adds “insult to injury” for patients who discontinue GLP-1s and gain back weight, George Yancopoulos, who also is Regeneron’s (REGN) chief scientific officer, higher body fat percentage that’s associated with other health problems, he said.

Drug Trials

Regeneron (REGN) isn’t alone in researching experimental treatments for preserving lean muscle mass when combined with GLP-1 drugs that curb appetite. If the $130 billion market for GLP-1 drugs is any indication, there is ample demand for muscle-preserving treatments.

Novo Nordisk (NVO) (OTCPK:NONOF) currently markets Ozempic and Wegovy for weight loss, while Eli Lilly (NYSE:LLY) makes Mounjaro and Zepbound.

Regeneron (REGN) is testing a drug called trevogrumab that blocks the hormone myostatin, preventing from limiting muscle growth, in combination with Wegovy in mid-stage trials.

Meanwhile, there are 11 myostatin drugs in the industry pipeline, of which seven are being investigated for obesity, the FTI reported, citing data from industry tracker Citeline.

Eli Lilly (LLY) last year acquired Versanis for $1.9 billion to obtain a muscle-preserving treatment. Newly listed BioAge Labs (NASDAQ:BIOA) partnered with Eli Lilly (LLY) on a treatment to prevent muscle loss.