icon
Treatments
Programmeicon
How it works
Treatments, coaching and habit change programme
Coaching
The support of a dedicated health coach
Voy app
Track your progress whilst creating healthy sustainable habits
Results
About
Experts
Resourcesicon
Guides & tips
Tools and tips for lasting weight loss
Research & science
Evidence-based insights and clinical research
icon
icon
menu-close
OVERVIEW
Treatments
icon
How it works
icon
Coaching
icon
Voy app
icon
EXPLORE
Results
icon
About
icon
Experts
icon
Resources
icon
ACCOUNT
Login
icon
GET IN TOUCH
020 3912 9885
Mon-Fri 9:00-17:30
icon
Guides & tips
icon
Research & science
icon
Home/Guides & Tips/Medication/

Amycretin for weight loss

Amycretin for Weight Loss: Benefits & Side Effects

Here’s what we know so far about Amycretin, an experimental weight loss tablet.

clinician image

Medically reviewed by

Dr Earim Chaudry (MBBS), Chief Medical Officer

iconPublished 21st May 2025
Research-based advice
Table of contents
  • What is Amycretin?
  • How does Amycretin work for we...
  • Benefits of Amycretin
  • What are the side effects of A...
  • Amycretin vs other weight loss...
  • When will Amycretin be availab...
  • Science-backed weight manageme...

The only weight loss tablet that’s currently approved in the UK is orlistat. There is, however, an oral semaglutide pill called Rybelsus. It’s licensed for type 2 diabetes, and some doctors prescribe it “off-label” for weight management—but it’s not formally authorised for obesity.

Novo Nordisk—the company behind Wegovy and Rybelsus—is developing a new slimming pill called amycretin. Early trial results look promising, but the drug is still in clinical studies, so it isn’t available on prescription yet.

What is Amycretin?

It’s a brand new weight loss pill in development that makes you feel full, so you eat less. 

Like Wegovy weight loss injections, amycretin acts like the natural hunger hormone GLP-1. But it also mimics another hormone called amylin, which is released when you eat and influences appetite.

This dual action suggests that Amycretin could be a more potent medicine than Wegovy.

How does Amycretin work for weight loss?

Amycretin brings on the effects of the hormones GLP-1 and amylin, two gut hormones that affect our appetite.

GLP-1 tells your body to release insulin when you eat (while telling your liver to make less glucose, to help keep your blood sugar under control), slows your digestion, and communicates with your brain to keep cravings at bay.

Amylin also slows digestion, helps blood sugar stay stable, and signals to the brain that you’ve had enough to eat.

FYI: It’s still in the early phases of clinical trials, so we’re still learning about how Amycretin affects the body.

Benefits of Amycretin

Again, we don’t have loads of data here because Amycretin is still in development. Though from what we do know, it looks like Amycretin could be more effective than Wegovy for weight loss.

In a phase 1 trial, Novo Nordisk reported that people lost 13.1% of their initial weight after taking the highest strength of Amycretin for just three months. And in a more recently completed trial looking at the injectable version of amycretin, people on a 20mg/week dose lost 22% of their starting weight after 36 weeks.

Those are both bigger drops in weight than what’s been seen on Wegovy. After taking Wegovy for 36 weeks, the average loss was around 13% body weight. At the 68-week mark, the mean loss was 14.9%.

What are the side effects of Amycretin?

Mostly, Amycretin side effects that are being reported are to do with the gut—like nausea and vomiting. This is similar to Saxenda, Wegovy, and Mounjaro.

But because amylin appears to act on the brain rather than the gut, it’s been suggested that Amycretin could increase feelings of fullness while reducing the risk of gastrointestinal symptoms. Though we need more evidence to confirm that’s the case.

Amycretin vs other weight loss medications

Okay, but how does Amycretin stack up against other weight loss medicines? We don’t really know enough about Amycretin to compare it to other medicines just yet. But we can look at the research we do have to get a rough idea. Let’s dive in.

How they work

We’ve touched on this briefly. Amycretin works by acting like the two hormones GLP-1 and amylin. Mounjaro, Wegovy, and Saxenda weight loss injections all mimic the effects of hormones, too. But they do that in slightly different ways. Wegovy and Saxenda act like GLP-1, whereas Mounjaro behaves like GLP-1 and another hunger hormone called GIP.

All of these medicines make you feel full, so you eat less.

Orlistat (Orlos) works in a different way. It lowers your overall calorie intake by reducing the amount of fat you digest from your food.

Weight loss results

Based on clinical research:

  • The average weight loss in people taking 14mg Rybelsus was 5% after 26 weeks compared to placebo.
  • Roughly two in five people taking orlistat lose at least 10% of their starting weight after 52 weeks.
  • On average, after taking Saxenda for 52 weeks, people lost 7.4% of their starting weight.
  • People lost 14.9% of their body weight after 68 weeks on Wegovy.
  • For those taking Mounjaro for weight loss, the mean drop in weight was 25.3% after 88 weeks.
  • With Amycretin pills, people on a 20mg dose lost 22% of their starting weight after 36 weeks.

A caveat: We still need to know what Amycretin weight loss results look like over the long term. With weight loss medication, there comes a point where results naturally plateau, and we haven’t seen that happen yet in clinical research.

That means that we don’t know how much weight loss is possible on Amycretin. But we should find out as clinical trials progress.

Side effects

What about side effects? We’ve mentioned that Amycretin pill side effects are similar to Mounjaro side effects or those from other weight loss injections like Saxenda or Wegovy.

Because of how they act on the gut to slow digestion, the most common symptoms of all of these medicines are gut-related—think nausea, constipation, diarrhoea, and vomiting. Side effects are usually mild and clear up on their own, though.

Orlistat also affects the gut but has its own list of side effects. Stomach pain, incontinence when passing stools, runny or liquid stools, and needing to go to the toilet more often are some of the most common symptoms.

When will Amycretin be available?

For a medicine to be approved, regulators have to assess the results of completed clinical trials to decide whether it’s effective and safe to take.

Amycretin is still in the early stages of clinical research, so it could be a few years before it’s available.

Novo Nordisk has said that it is confident amycretin will be ready to launch sometime before 2030.

Science-backed weight management

It could take some time for Amycretin to become available in the UK. But there are plenty of other weight loss medications out there that can help you reach your goals.

There’s Saxenda, Wegovy, or Mounjaro weight loss injections—or Orlistat weight loss capsules if you prefer taking a pill. Your provider (like us!) will advise on which is best for you personally.

Curious about weight loss medications?
They can be a gamechanger when exercise and diet aren’t giving you the results you’d hoped for. Voy’s weight loss programme combines science-backed medicines with a team of health experts cheering you on. Find out if it’s right for you today.
icon
Science-backed programme
icon
Personalised support
icon
Trusted by 100,000 UK customers

At Voy, you’ll get monthly medication posted to you plus one-to-one support from our team of coaches and clinicians through our weight loss programme. It’s backed by science and designed to drive long-term lifestyle transformation.

We’ll help you build healthy habits that last—and will be right there with you at every step, cheering you on. We know you’ve got this!

Take our quiz to find out if you’re eligible for the programme. Our clinicians will review and come back to you within minutes.

Looking to start you weight loss journey?
Take a quick eligibility quiz to explore your options and see how we can support you.
DisclaimerAt Voy, we ensure that everything you read in our blog is medically reviewed and approved. However, the information provided is not meant to replace professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. It should not be relied upon for specific medical advice.
References
icon¹

Aronne, Louis J, et al. “Continued Treatment with Tirzepatide for Maintenance of Weight Reduction in Adults with Obesity: the SURMOUNT-4 Randomised Clinical Trial.” JAMA,scribble-underline vol. 331, no. 1, 2024:38-48, https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2812936

icon²

Dehestani, Babak, et al. “Amylin as a Future Obesity Treatment.” Journal of Obesity and Metabolic Syndrome,scribble-underline vol. 30, issue 4, 2021:320-325, https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8735818/.

icon³

Electronic Medicines Compendium. “Alli (orlistat). Information for the User.” Medicines.orgscribble-underline, www.medicines.org.uk/emc/files/pil.6533.pdf. Accessed 14 May 2025.

icon⁴

Enebo, Lone B, et al. “Safety, Tolerability, Pharmacokinetics, and Pharmacodynamics of Concomitant Administration of Multiple Doses of Cagrilintide with Semaglutide 2·4 mg for Weight Management: A Randomised, Controlled, Phase 1b Trial.” The Lancetscribble-underline, vol. 397, issue 10286, 2021:1736-1748, www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(21)00845-X/abstract.

icon⁵

Fick, Maggie, and Gronholt-Pederson, Jacob. “Novo Nordisk Confident of Amycretin Obesity Drug Launch This Decade.” Reutersscribble-underline, 2024, www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/novo-nordisk-hopes-launch-experimental-obesity-drug-within-this-decade-2024-03-08/ Accessed 14 May 2025.

icon⁶

“Saxenda: Full Prescribing Information.” Food and Drug Administration.scribble-underline 2024 https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2024/206321s019lbl.pdf Accessed 14 May 2025.

icon⁷

“Xenical (orlistat). Prescribing Information.” Food and Drug Administration.scribble-underline https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2022/020766s038lbl.pdf. Accessed 14 May 2025.

icon⁸

Gasiorek, A, et al. “Safety, Tolerability and Weight Reduction Findings of Oral Amycretin: A Novel Amylin and Glucagon-like Peptide-1 Receptor Co-agonist, in a First-in-human Study.” Paper presented at: 60th EASD Annual Meeting September 9-12, 2024, Spain https://upload.easd.org/download/EASD2024/EASD2024_AbstractVolume.pdf Accessed 14 May 2025.

icon⁹

Holst, Jens Juul. “The Physiology of Glucagon-like Peptide 1.” Physiological Reviewsscribble-underline, vol. 87, issue 4, 2007:1409-1439 https://journals.physiology.org/doi/full/10.1152/physrev.00034.2006.

icon¹⁰

Novo Nordisk. “Novo Nordisk Successfully Completes Phase 1b/2a trial with Subcutaneous Amycretin in People with Overweight or Obesity.” Novo Nordiskscribble-underline, www.novonordisk.com/news-and-media/news-and-ir-materials/news-details.html?id=915251 Accessed 14 May 2025.

icon¹¹

Wilding, John P.H., et al. “Once-weekly Semaglutide in Adults with Overweight or Obesity.” The New England Journal of Medicinescribble-underline, vol. 384, no. 11, 2021:989-1002, www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2032183.

card-image
Medication
The Mounjaro “golden dose”: Is it safe to use?
Curious about the so-called “golden dose” or “fifth dose” of Mounjaro? This extra bit of liquid left in the pen after your four prescribed doses has sparked plenty of buzz—but is it safe to use?
card-image
Medication
What supplements should you take with Mounjaro?
Curious if vitamins or supplements are necessary to help you reach your health goals on Mounjaro? Here’s what you should know.
card-image
Medication
Does Mounjaro cause insomnia?
Problems with sleep aren’t listed as Mounjaro side effects, so what could be going on here? Read on—we’ve answered all your questions around Mounjaro and sleep below.
card-image
Medication
How long does it take for Mounjaro to suppress appetite?
Taking Mounjaro and still craving comfort foods? Here’s what might be going on.
Have a question?
Whatever it is, get in touch:
message
020 3912 9885Mon-Fri 9:00-17:00
message
help@joinvoy.comWe aim to reply in 24hrs
Mon-Fri 9:00-17:00
We aim to reply in 24hrs
Our services are not intended for use in a medical emergency. If you need urgent medical attention, please call 111 or 999

PROGRAMME

  • How it works
  • Treatments
  • Coaching
  • The Voy app

VOY

  • Results
  • About
  • Our medical experts

HELP

  • Help Centre (FAQ)
logo
Privacy PolicyTerms & Conditions
Terms of SaleComplaints
Pharmacies: Manual Pharmacy
Superintendent Pharmacist
Vinisha Kanda
GPhC Registration: 2203475
Copyright 2025 Voy™. All rights reserved.
cards
pharmacy-contact
Privacy Preference Center
We use cookies to help you navigate efficiently and perform certain functions. You will find detailed information about all cookies under each consent category below. The cookies that are categorized as "Necessary" are stored on your browser as they are essential for enabling the basic functionalities of the site. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyse how you use this website, store your preferences, and provide the content and advertisements that are relevant to you. These cookies will only be stored in your browser with your prior consent. You can choose to enable or disable some or all of these cookies but disabling some of them may affect your browsing experience.
Manage Consent Preferences
icon
Necessary Cookies
Always Active
Necessary cookies ensure the basic functionalities of the website, such as security, network management, and accessibility. These cookies cannot be disabled and do not store personal information.
icon
Preferences Cookies
Preferences cookies allow the website to remember information that changes the way the site behaves or looks, such as your preferred language or region.
icon
Statistics Cookies
Statistics cookies help us understand how visitors interact with the website by collecting and reporting information anonymously. These cookies provide insights into metrics such as page visits and traffic sources.
icon
Marketing Cookies
Marketing cookies are used to track visitors across websites. The intention is to display ads that are relevant and engaging for the individual user and more valuable to publishers and third-party advertisers.