Results from Phase 2 COURAGE Trial Demonstrating Potential to Improve Quality of GLP-1 receptor agonist-induced Weight Loss by Preserving Lean Mass, Presented at EASD

Core Insights - The combination of semaglutide with trevogrumab significantly reduces lean mass loss while enhancing fat loss in patients undergoing weight loss treatment for obesity [1][2][3] - The Phase 2 COURAGE trial results indicate that 33% of weight loss from semaglutide is due to lean mass loss, and trevogrumab can prevent about half of this loss [1][3] Treatment Efficacy - The trial included a weight-loss phase and a weight-maintenance phase, with three primary efficacy endpoints: percent change in lean mass, fat mass, and body weight at week 26 [2] - Detailed results showed that patients receiving semaglutide alone experienced a 6.5% loss in lean mass, while those on trevogrumab combinations had significantly lower losses: 3.3% for lower-dose, 3.8% for higher-dose, and 2.0% for the triplet combination [3] - Fat mass loss was greater in combination groups, with the triplet group achieving a 27.1% reduction compared to 15.7% in the semaglutide monotherapy group [3] Metabolic Improvements - Improvements in metabolic and lipid parameters were observed across all treatment groups, including reductions in waist circumference, blood pressure, cholesterol, triglycerides, and A1C levels [1][5] - The combination therapies demonstrated a favorable profile in preserving muscle mass while promoting fat loss, indicating a meaningful opportunity for obesity treatment [2] Safety and Tolerability - The combination of semaglutide with trevogrumab was generally well-tolerated, with adverse events such as muscle spasms and nausea reported in over 5% of participants [6] - The triplet combination had a higher rate of discontinuations due to tolerability issues, with two deaths reported, although no causal association with treatment was identified [7] Company Overview - Regeneron is focused on developing treatments that improve the quality of weight loss, addressing the issue of muscle loss associated with obesity treatments [9][10] - The company utilizes its proprietary VelocImmune technology to create fully human antibodies, contributing to its innovative pipeline in obesity and related metabolic diseases [11][12]