What if you could take a pill to help manage your weight? Researchers just took a first look at a new oral drug called HDM1002, which works like the popular GLP-1 medications but in pill form. In a small, 28-day study of Chinese adults with overweight or obesity, those taking the drug lost more weight than those on a placebo. For example, people on one daily dose lost about 6 kilograms, compared to 1.6 kilograms in the placebo group.
The study was designed mainly to check if the drug was safe for people to take. Most people who took HDM1002 experienced mild to moderate side effects, and two people stopped taking it because of them. The drug's safety profile was considered manageable in this short test. It's important to note that the drug did not show a significant effect on blood sugar levels in these participants, who did not have diabetes.
This is a phase 1b trial, which means it's one of the very first tests in people. The groups were small—only about 12 people per dose—and the treatment lasted just four weeks. We don't know if the weight loss would continue, if it's safe for longer use, or how it compares to other treatments. The results are a preliminary signal that needs much more research in larger, longer studies.