Long-acting amylin-related peptides as therapies for obesity and type 2 diabetes

The first therapeutically useful amylin receptor (AMYR) agonist, pramlintide was based upon the structure of non-aggregating rat amylin and found limited application as an adjunct to insulin therapy. It acts centrally to induce satiety, promote weight loss, suppress prandial glucagon release and reduce prandial hyperglycaemia. Recent understanding of the heterodimeric structure of amylin-calcitonin receptor complexes and of amylin structure-function properties has assisted the design of a second generation of non-aggregating, long-acting amylin analogues. These are now advancing in clinical development and promise to provide an effective additional resource for the management of obesity and type 2 diabetes. Amongst these agents is the dual AMYR/ calcitonin-receptor (CTR) agonist, cagrilintide that has also been co-formulated into a once weekly subcutaneous injection with the long-acting glucagon-like peptide-1receptor (GLP-1R) agonist, semaglutide (CagriSema). In clinical trials, CagriSema has achieved greater effects than either component alone. A unimolecular AMYR/CTR/GLP-1R multi-agonist peptide, amycretin has been developed for weekly injection and as a once-daily tablet. Several recently developed long-acting amylin analogues have shown strong efficacy as monotherapy in clinical trials: these include eloralintide, petrelintide, Met-233 and AZD6234. Other analogues with marked efficacy in preclinical studies, including non-peptide AMYR agonists are under development. Gastrointestinal side effects, especially nausea, similar to those reported for GLP-1R agonists are commonplace during initiation and up-titration of amylin analogues but mostly resolve during continued use. Evidence is emerging that long-acting AMYR agonists may show potential therapeutic benefits in treatment of patients with fatty liver disease, diabetes-associated kidney complications and resistant hypertension. • Long-acting, non-aggregating amylin analogues act centrally to lower body weight and blood glucose • Effects of amylin analogues are additive to those of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists • Advances in amylin receptor research are guiding the design of new analogues including AMYR/CTR and AMYR/CTR/GLP-1R multi-agonist peptides • Long-acting amylin analogues in pharma pipelines show strong efficacy as anti-obesity agents • AMYR agonists show potential for treatment of diabetes/obesity co-morbidities