CBL-514 injection reduces visceral fat by 12% in early trials
Early human trials of the experimental injection CBL-514 demonstrated a 12.01% reduction in visceral fat volume among participants, according to data reported by SciTechDaily. Visceral fat accumulates deep within the abdomen around internal organs and is linked to metabolic dysfunction, insulin resistance, and type 2 diabetes. The American Heart Association published research in March stating that visceral fat has a stronger association with heart failure risk than body mass index (BMI). Garvey, affiliated with the University of Alabama at Birmingham, and Yu-Fang Ling of Caliway Biopharmaceuticals in New Taipei City, Taiwan, led the investigation. The study built on previous phase 2 trials that established the drug's ability to reduce subcutaneous fat, the layer directly beneath the skin. MRI scans from two phase 2 trials showed a decrease in visceral fat for participants receiving CBL-514, while the placebo group experienced an increase in visceral fat. Participants received injections into their lower abdomen every three weeks for up to 12 weeks, with doses reaching up to 600 milligrams. The frequency of injections adjusted based on abdominal fat thickness, decreasing as the fat layer volume reduced. CBL-514 functions by selectively triggering apoptosis, a process where cells self-destruct, specifically targeting fat cells while leaving nearby tissues unharmed. Four weeks after the final treatment, the average fat volume in the CBL-514 group lowered by 12.01%, whereas the placebo group saw a 5.68% increase. Garvey noted that while cosmetic effects like a flatter stomach are appealing to patients, the health benefits are more significant. He highlighted improvements in body weight, blood pressure, and cholesterol levels alongside the loss of visceral fat as key factors for overall health. Unlike liposuction, a common surgical cosmetic procedure that cannot remove visceral fat, CBL-514 addresses the specific type of fat associated with elevated health risks.
Early human trials of the experimental injection CBL-514 demonstrated a 12.01% reduction in visceral fat volume among participants, according to data reported by SciTechDaily. Visceral fat accumulates deep within the abdomen around internal organs and is linked to metabolic dysfunction, insulin resistance, and type 2 diabetes. The American Heart Association published research in March stating that visceral fat has a stronger association with heart failure risk than body mass index (BMI). Garvey, affiliated with the University of Alabama at Birmingham, and Yu-Fang Ling of Caliway Biopharmaceuticals in New Taipei City, Taiwan, led the investigation. The study built on previous phase 2 trials that established the drug's ability to reduce subcutaneous fat, the layer directly beneath the skin. MRI scans from two phase 2 trials showed a decrease in visceral fat for participants receiving CBL-514, while the placebo group experienced an increase in visceral fat. Participants received injections into their lower abdomen every three weeks for up to 12 weeks, with doses reaching up to 600 milligrams. The frequency of injections adjusted based on abdominal fat thickness, decreasing as the fat layer volume reduced. CBL-514 functions by selectively triggering apoptosis, a process where cells self-destruct, specifically targeting fat cells while leaving nearby tissues unharmed. Four weeks after the final treatment, the average fat volume in the CBL-514 group lowered by 12.01%, whereas the placebo group saw a 5.68% increase. Garvey noted that while cosmetic effects like a flatter stomach are appealing to patients, the health benefits are more significant. He highlighted improvements in body weight, blood pressure, and cholesterol levels alongside the loss of visceral fat as key factors for overall health. Unlike liposuction, a common surgical cosmetic procedure that cannot remove visceral fat, CBL-514 addresses the specific type of fat associated with elevated health risks.