August 2, 2025 | Thousand Oaks, CA — Amgen has officially announced Meritide (formerly MariTide, maridebart cafraglutide), its groundbreaking investigational therapy for obesity, type 2 diabetes, and related cardiometabolic conditions, marking a bold step forward in the global fight against metabolic disease.
A breakthrough in obesity and diabetes management
In results from its Phase 2 clinical trial, Meritide showed strong and steady weight loss in adults living with obesity, both with and without type 2 diabetes. People with obesity but no diabetes lost an average of up to 20 percent of their body weight.
Those with both obesity and type 2 diabetes lost up to 17 percent on average. These results were achieved within 52 weeks.
No weight loss plateau was observed, which suggests that further weight reduction may be possible with continued treatment.
Additionally, Meritide significantly lowered HbA1c levels by up to 2.2 percentage points in patients with type 2 diabetes, a crucial marker of long-term blood glucose control.
Monthly or less frequent dosing sets meritide apart
Unlike most current treatments that require weekly administration, Meritide is designed for monthly or less frequent subcutaneous dosing. This long-acting delivery could improve medication adherence and offer a more convenient alternative for chronic weight management.
Amgen aims to offer the therapy in a user-friendly autoinjector, streamlining the experience for patients at home.
Dual mechanism for stronger effect
Meritide uses a bispecific mechanism, acting as a GLP-1 receptor agonist and a GIP receptor antagonist, which together drive significant weight loss, appetite regulation, and improved insulin sensitivity. Preclinical studies and human genetics analyses by Amgen showed this dual targeting offers a stronger metabolic impact than GLP-1 activation alone.
Cardiometabolic benefits beyond weight loss
The therapy also produced notable improvements in:
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Waist circumference
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Blood pressure
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Triglyceride levels
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High-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP)
Importantly, there were no significant changes in bone mineral density or free fatty acids, mitigating some of the safety concerns raised in earlier obesity treatments.
Safety profile and tolerability
Most reported side effects were gastrointestinal, such as nausea, vomiting, and constipation—primarily mild and short-lived, especially with dose escalation. In dose-escalation groups, discontinuation rates due to side effects were under 8%, and new safety signals were not identified.
Phase 3 maritime program underway
Following the successful Phase 2 results, Amgen has launched the Maritime Phase 3 program, consisting of two key studies:
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Maritime-1: Involving 3,500 participants with obesity/overweight without diabetes
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Maritime-2: Involving 999 participants with obesity/overweight and type 2 diabetes
Both studies will test three dosage levels over 72 weeks, with results expected in early 2027.
Additionally, Amgen plans to expand Phase 3 trials to test Meritide’s impact on:
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Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease
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Heart failure
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Obstructive sleep apnea
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Kidney disease
A timely solution for a global epidemic
With more than 2.5 billion adults globally affected by overweight and obesity, and 42.5% of U.S. adults classified as obese, the need for more accessible, sustainable therapies is critical. Yet, only 1-3% of eligible adults in the U.S. receive pharmacologic treatment for obesity.
Jay Bradner, M.D., Amgen’s EVP of R&D, noted, “Meritide’s monthly dosing, meaningful and progressive weight loss, and broad cardiometabolic benefits make it a potentially transformative therapy for millions globally.”
