Ep. 262, Chapter 6: Addressing Unmet Needs In Obesity Treatment With Roger Cone, Ph.D.

48:08 – End

Current GLP-1 therapies have been highly successful, but significant unmet needs in obesity treatment remain, including a substantial number of patients who cannot tolerate the side effects. Additionally, the weight loss achieved with GLP-1s varies widely, so improving the efficacy of these drugs to achieve greater weight loss is still a major goal.

Another critical area of concern is the loss of lean muscle mass during weight loss in addition to fat. Some studies suggest that GLP-1 drugs may cause a greater loss of lean mass than other weight-loss methods, although this remains a subject of debate. Preventing this loss is important for overall health, as adequate muscle mass is vital for mobility, bone health, and preventing conditions like diabetes. Companies are actively exploring combination therapies to address these issues and potentially mitigate lean mass loss.