Pemvidutide

What is Pemvidutide?

Pemvidutide is a treatment for weight loss in the form of a pen. You use it every week by injecting the medication subcutaneously (in the fat under your skin), and it works by suppressing your appetite. Because you feel the need to eat less, your weight can gradually start to come down over a period of time as you make lifestyle adjustments.

The medication in Pemvidutide belongs to a class known as Glucagon-like peptide-1 agonists. They work by replicating the function of GLP-1, a hormone your stomach releases whenever you eat. GLP-1 receptor agonists are often used to treat diabetes and obesity. They’ve been studied and found to promote an average weight loss of nearly three kilograms, as well as reducing blood pressure and cholesterol.^[1]

How will Pemvidutide work?

GLP-1 agonists have numerous functions that can contribute to weight loss. They can help your body produce more insulin, which controls how much sugar is in your blood. They also lower the amount of glucose made by your liver, and have proven effective at reducing liver fat content^[2]

Pemvidutide contains a synthetic peptide which is derived from oxyntomodulin. Oxyntomodulin (OXM) increases the amount of energy your body expends.^[3]
It can slow down the rate at which you digest food, which means your body will absorb sugar much slower than it normally would. This can reduce your appetite, which means over the course of a day, you’re much more likely to consume less calories.

A clinician will decide which dose (pen) you start on, and from there you will increase your doses incrementally until you find an amount of Pemvidutide which helps you lose weight at a rate you’re happy with.

What doses of Pemvidutide will be available?

In Phase 2 clinical trials that involved 320 individuals who were considered obese, the doses used were 1.2mg, 1.8mg and 2.4mg of Pemvidutide.

When Pemvidutide becomes available, these doses are likely to be the ones that are available to you. You will only need to use your pen once a week, and along with a reduced-calorie diet, it can help you reach your weight loss targets.

How to use Pemvidutide

Until Pemvidutide becomes available, it’s hard to say specifically how you’ll use the pens, but a lot of GLP-1 medications are applied in the same way. When we do have Pemvidutide in stock, the medication will come with a patient information leaflet (PIL) that contains directions for use, along with all of the pen’s active ingredients.

GLP-1 agonists are usually available as injections or tablets. A clinician will advise you about where they think is the best place to inject your medicine, but common areas of your body include the front of your thighs, your upper arms and your stomach

If you’re using GLP-1 tablets, they’re usually taken first thing in the morning, on an empty stomach.

Will Pemvidutide work right away?

Pemvidutide will start to work in your system from the first injection, but it’s usually weeks before you’ll start to notice your weight coming down. In a trial in Australia that looked at the effects of Pemvidutide in obese and overweight volunteers, patients were shown to lose weight rapidly and consistently over a 12-week period.^[1]

Losing weight relies on lifestyle and dietary changes, alongside using medication like Pemvidutide. Some people who use the injections might lose weight at a faster rate than others, but that doesn’t mean the injections aren’t working. You can speak to a clinician if you feel like Pemvidutide isn’t helping you lose weight at the rate you want it to.

What should I do if I make a mistake when using Pemvidutide?

GLP-1 receptor agonists are designed to be used in a very specific way. When you change your doses of Pemvidutide, you’ll be doing it under the supervision of a clinician who will be helping you lose weight in a safe, controlled way. This means there’s never any need to use more Pemvidutide than you need.

You’ll only need to use your pen once a week. If you forget your injection at the usual time, you should be able to use your Pemvidutide pen as soon as you remember, provided it’s not too close to the time your next dose is due. If it’s less than 48 hours until your next injection, you can just skip the dose you missed.

If you take too much Pemvidutide, you should go to hospital immediately and bring the box your medication arrived in with you. This will help hospital staff get you the help you need. Taking too much of this medication might cause nausea and other side effects that can make you feel ill.

You should never stop using Pemvidutide immediately without speaking to a medical expert first.