Eli Lilly's new experimental weight-loss drug, retatrutide, is showing encouraging results in clinical trials by mimicking the effects of three different hormones instead of just one or two, according to the company. At a recent meeting of the European Society of Cardiology in London, researchers reported that retatrutide significantly lowered patients' blood lipid levels and reduced cardiovascular risks in a mid-stage trial.
After 48 weeks, retatrutide reduced triglyceride levels by up to 40.6% and lowered levels of apoC-III—a protein linked to glucose metabolism and inflammation—by 38%. In the same trial, patients taking the highest dose of the drug lost around 24% of their body weight, which is higher than the results from other popular weight-loss medications. Additionally, obese patients experienced significant improvements in liver fat.
Like other weight-loss drugs, retatrutide mimics the appetite-suppressing and blood-sugar-lowering effects of a hormone called GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide 1). It also mimics the effects of another hormone, GIP (glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide), which helps reduce appetite and blood sugar. But unlike other drugs, retatrutide also mimics a third hormone, glucagon, which promotes fat breakdown and prevents dangerously low blood sugar levels. The drug is currently in late-stage testing.
Heart Attack Patients May Benefit from Additional Artery Procedures
For older patients who suffer a heart attack and have multiple narrowed coronary arteries, clearing all the affected arteries may be more beneficial than just treating the one that caused the heart attack, researchers suggested at the European Society of Cardiology meeting.
An ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) occurs when an artery supplying blood to the heart becomes completely blocked, causing permanent heart damage. When younger patients experience a STEMI with multiple diseased arteries, doctors often clear all the affected arteries and place stents to keep them open. However, this approach is less commonly used for older patients due to the longer procedure time and potential risks.
A study that combined data from seven previous studies involving 1,733 patients over age 75 found that a complete revascularization strategy—clearing all arteries—resulted in a 22% reduction in death, heart attack, or need for another procedure compared to treating just the blocked artery. Although the benefits of complete revascularization were less clear after six years, the study still found a 24% reduction in heart-related deaths and heart attacks.
The researchers, led by Dr. Gianluca Campo of the University Hospital of Ferrara in Italy, are awaiting further data to understand the longer-term outcomes better.
Timing of Blood Pressure Medication Doesn't Matter
A new Canadian study has confirmed that whether you take your blood pressure medication in the morning or at night does not make a difference in major cardiovascular events or safety. The study, presented at the European Society of Cardiology meeting, found that patients should take their medication when they are least likely to forget.
The research, led by Ricky Turgeon from the University of British Columbia, analyzed data from five randomized trials involving 46,606 patients. The study found no significant difference in the rates of major heart problems or overall mortality between morning and evening dosing. Similarly, there were no differences in the risks of fractures, eye problems, or cognitive issues.
Dr. Scott Garrison from the University of Alberta, who conducted two of the five trials, noted that while blood pressure typically peaks in the morning and drops during sleep, evening dosing did not provide any additional benefits over morning dosing.
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