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Triple-Hormone Weight Drug Cuts Body Weight Up To 19.7 Percent

A phase 2 trial found an experimental weekly injection outperformed placebo for weight loss in adults with obesity over 24 weeks.

By Dr. Axe Editorial Team · October 17, 2026 · 1 source · Understand

An experimental injectable drug that targets three hormone receptors at once dropped body weight by 13.6% to 19.7% in 24 weeks, according to a phase 2 trial published October 7, 2026, in Cell Metabolism.

13.6%-19.7%weight loss

205adults, 24 weeks

Researchers enrolled 205 adults with overweight or obesity, 59.0% women, ages 18 to 61, without type 2 diabetes, in a multicenter, randomized, placebo-controlled phase 2 trial. Participants received once-weekly injections of UBT251 at 2 mg, 4 mg, or 6 mg (with a lower starting dose of 0.5 mg or 1 mg for some groups) or a placebo injection, for 24 weeks. At week 24, average body weight dropped 13.6% to 19.7% across the UBT251 dose groups, versus 2.0% with placebo, a placebo-adjusted difference of 11.5 to 17.7 percentage points depending on dose. The drug groups also showed improvements in waist circumference, body mass index, blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and blood sugar markers compared with placebo. The most common side effects were mild-to-moderate digestive symptoms, consistent with this drug class.

UBT251 activates three separate hormone receptors at once: GLP-1, GIP, and glucagon, all involved in appetite signaling and how the body burns fuel. Targeting multiple receptors with a single drug reflects the broader direction obesity drug development has been moving in recent years.

Body weight change at 24 weeks: UBT251 (13.6% to 19.7%) vs. placebo

Cell Metabolism, 2026, Zhou et al.

This is a 24-week trial compared only against placebo, not against other GLP-1-class drugs already available, so superiority claims can't be made from this data. The trial excluded people with type 2 diabetes, and whether weight loss holds up beyond 24 weeks or after stopping isn't addressed here.

Dr. Axe’s Take

A weight loss range of 13.6% to 19.7% in 24 weeks is substantial for a phase 2 trial, but this drug is investigational, not something available to prescribe today, and it was only measured against placebo. For approved GLP-1-class medicines, I pair these drugs with a whole-food, high-protein, high-fiber diet and resistance training, since the medicine alone doesn't rebuild the muscle you need long-term. Many people do well on a much lower dose, often 10 to 20% of the labeled dose, worked out with the prescribing doctor instead of adjusting on their own. Watch for muscle loss, nausea, and weight regain after stopping.

— Dr. Axe

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Study summary

Who: 205 adults with overweight or obesity, 59.0% women, ages 18-61, without type 2 diabetes
Design: Multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 2 trial
Dose: Once-weekly UBT251 at 2 mg, 4 mg (starting 0.5 or 1 mg), or 6 mg, or placebo, for 24 weeks
Primary result: Body weight dropped 13.6% to 19.7% with UBT251 vs. 2.0% with placebo at week 24; placebo-adjusted difference 11.5 to 17.7 percentage points
Secondary: Improved waist circumference, BMI, blood pressure, lipid profiles, and glycemic parameters vs. placebo; most frequent adverse events were mild-to-moderate gastrointestinal symptoms
Funding / conflicts: Sponsored by United Bio-Technology (Hengqin) Co., Ltd. Four authors are employees of the sponsor or its affiliate, The Zhuhai United Laboratories, two are Novo Nordisk employees, and all other authors received research funds from the sponsor.
Date: Oct 7, 2026