"Diabesitology": A Call To Action For Novel Clinical Trial Designs In The Golden Era Of GLP-1 Axis Medications

By Jamie P. Dwyer, MD, Associate Dean for Clinical Research, Professor of Medicine, and Director of the Utah DCC, PI of the Collaborative Study Group, Co-Founder of Corventum, Biorasi Scientific Advisory Board Member

The clinical treatment of obesity has transformed significantly in recent years with the advent of GLP-1 (Glucagon-like peptide-1) medications, initially developed for Type 2 diabetes. These drugs, such as semaglutide and high-dose liraglutide, have been repurposed to suppress appetite and promote weight loss, leading to their FDA approval for obesity treatment. Dr. Jamie Dwyer highlights the potential of GLP-1 agonists to extend beyond weight loss, reducing cravings for addictive substances and offering cardiovascular and kidney benefits, as demonstrated in the FLOW clinical trial.

Dr. Dwyer advocates for innovative clinical trial designs to explore these multidimensional impacts, coining the term "diabesitology" for this integrated approach. Addressing access disparities through novel trials could enhance the applicability and availability of these groundbreaking therapies, heralding a new era in obesity and metabolic disease treatment.