Drug Fights GLP-1 Muscle Loss; Unapproved Retatrutide Prescriptions; Protein Swap

Investigational apitegromab — a selective myostatin activation inhibitor — effectively preserved lean mass when combined with tirzepatide (Zepbound) in a randomized phase II trial, suggesting it could help fight “Ozempic butt.” (Nature Medicine, BBC News)

The FDA hasn’t yet reviewed retatrutide for safety and effectiveness, but doctors are prescribing the investigational weight-loss drug anyhow. (CBS News)

Chinese adults with obesity lost 15.15% more weight with the dual GLP-1/glucagon agonist mazdutide compared with placebo in the GLORY-2 randomized trial presented at the American Diabetes Association (ADA) annual meeting. (JAMA)

Also reported at the ADA meeting, an interrupted time series analysis published in JAMA found that Medicare’s $35 insulin cap decreased and stabilized out-of-pocket costs, increasing use among people with previously high costs. Catch up on more research from the ADA meeting here.

Tennis player Alexander Zverev gave himself an insulin injection for his type 1 diabetes during his French Open final win on Sunday. (Daily Express U.S. via AOL)

In a special edition of the American Journal of Public Health, leading nutrition experts called for sweeping government regulations on ultraprocessed foods. (STAT)

Swapping animal protein for plant protein was associated with a decrease in body weight among postmenopausal women, independent of changes in energy intake, a secondary analysis of a randomized trial showed. (Menopause)

Amid a federal investigation, the Cleveland Clinic reached an agreement to provide detransition care and not perform gender-affirming procedures for minors, the Justice Department announced.

Meanwhile, parents of transgender children treated at Mount Sinai in New York City said the health system plans to share their children’s health information with the Trump administration. (Gothamist)

HRS-7535, an oral nonpeptide GLP-1 drug, improved glycemic control and was linked to modest weight reductions in a Chinese randomized trial of adults with type 2 diabetes inadequately controlled with metformin. (JAMA Network Open)

In a qualitative study, patients described GLP-1 drug therapy functioning as a facilitator rather than a replacement for lifestyle change, emphasizing the need for behavioral interventions alongside pharmacotherapy to sustain treatment benefits. (JAMA Network Open)

Use of semaglutide (Ozempic, Wegovy) appeared to slow epigenetic aging in a randomized trial of people with HIV-associated lipohypertrophy. (Nature Communications)

Health insurer Cigna dropped coverage of GLP-1 weight-loss drugs for its own employees. (Reuters)