Study readouts, meta-analyses, and preclinical findings across the peptide literature, summarized with links to primary sources.
A phase 2, placebo-controlled trial conducted at 24 US centers found once-weekly mazdutide produced dose-dependent weight loss of up to 18.1 percent over 32 weeks, the first published US population data for the GLP-1/glucagon dual agonist, which is approved in China but remains investigational in the United States.
New PubMed literature from August 17 through August 23, 2026 included a phase 3 trial of the glucagon/GLP-1 dual agonist survodutide in obesity, a phase 2 US trial of mazdutide, a meta-analysis and a biomarker study on cagrilintide and retatrutide, a pediatric trial of dulaglutide in thalassemia-induced diabetes, three papers on bone-building peptides, a basic-science paper identifying a new antimicrobial function for the mitochondrial peptide MOTS-c, and smaller items on GHK-Cu, octreotide, and semaglutide.
ClinicalTrials.gov posted the complete results of PIONEER TEENS on August 21, 2026, the first phase 3 trial of an oral GLP-1 therapy in children and adolescents with type 2 diabetes. The 132-participant trial found oral semaglutide reduced HbA1c more than placebo over 52 weeks. Novo Nordisk has said it plans to seek regulatory approval in this age group but oral semaglutide is not currently approved for pediatric use.
The phase 3 trial, tracking three doses of the oral GLP-1 receptor agonist over a year in 401 participants, found gastrointestinal side effects and treatment discontinuation rose with dose but reported no severe hypoglycemia.
A prespecified secondary analysis of the SELECT cardiovascular outcomes trial found semaglutide reduced high-sensitivity C-reactive protein by nearly 38 percent, with the change linked to lower risk of major cardiovascular events independent of weight loss. The findings were published August 18, 2026 in Circulation.
A phase 3b randomized trial conducted at 19 sites in mainland China and Taiwan found once-weekly semaglutide 2.4 mg produced significantly greater weight loss than placebo, using BMI thresholds defined locally for Chinese and Taiwanese populations. The results were published August 10, 2026 in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology.
A post hoc analysis of the phase 3 SELECT cardiovascular outcomes trial found that semaglutide slowed the rise of a validated 25-protein blood test that predicts 5- and 20-year dementia risk, compared with placebo. The analysis was published August 8, 2026 in Alzheimer's & Dementia: Diagnosis, Assessment & Disease Monitoring.
New PubMed literature from August 2 through August 8, 2026 included four papers on kisspeptin and reproductive-axis signaling, a mediation analysis separating survodutide's liver effects from its weight-loss effects, a multi-drug review of GLP-1 receptor agonists in dialysis patients, a network meta-analysis and a cost-effectiveness review on the bone-building peptide teriparatide, and smaller items on a peptide-coated antibiotic nanoparticle, real-world radionuclide therapy outcomes, and a small case series on gut peptide drugs for constipation.
A prespecified pooled analysis of participant-level data from the SELECT, FLOW, and SOUL randomized trials, covering more than 30,000 people, found semaglutide reduced a composite of kidney failure, major kidney function loss, and kidney- or cardiovascular-related death. The analysis was published August 7, 2026 in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology.
A population-based cohort of nearly 53,000 people with type 2 diabetes and existing atherosclerotic heart disease found fewer heart attacks, strokes, and deaths among tirzepatide users than among those started on sitagliptin. The study and an accompanying editorial were published August 5, 2026 in The BMJ.
GLORY-2 found once-weekly mazdutide produced substantially greater weight loss than placebo in Chinese adults with obesity, while ACHIEVE-5 found oral orforglipron added to titrated insulin glargine improved glycemic control in type 2 diabetes. Both randomized trials, along with an editorial comparing them, were published August 4, 2026 in JAMA.
New PubMed literature from July 26 through August 1, 2026 included four mechanistic and real-world studies on the bone-building peptides teriparatide and abaloparatide, real-world and post hoc data on tirzepatide and CagriSema, an animal study on orforglipron's effect on aortic aneurysm, two papers on kisspeptin and reproductive-axis signaling, and safety or detection work touching desmopressin, BPC-157, and AOD-9604.
Two companion Phase 2 trials of subcutaneous and oral zenagamtide, the investigational GLP-1 and amylin receptor agonist formerly known as amycretin, were published July 30, 2026 in The Lancet, reporting dose-dependent A1C reductions in adults with type 2 diabetes.
A 50-person, placebo-controlled trial published in The American Journal of Psychiatry missed its primary craving endpoint but found semaglutide significantly cut heavy drinking days, drinks per drinking day, and alcohol-related consequences.
A week of new PubMed literature brought dueling papers on activating versus blocking the GIP receptor for weight loss, fresh evidence on bone-building peptides, safety analyses touching retatrutide and weight-loss drugs generally, and a formal regulatory profile of orforglipron following its April 2026 approval.
Results filed to ClinicalTrials.gov on July 20, 2026 show body weight reductions of up to 8.7 percent at 72 weeks in 238 Japanese adults with obesity, alongside higher rates of gastrointestinal side effects and one death in the highest-dose group.
In a 698-person trial spanning fibrosis stages F2 through compensated cirrhosis, the Novo Nordisk combination did not significantly beat placebo, though semaglutide alone showed a nominal signal, according to results published in The Lancet Gastroenterology & Hepatology on July 15, 2026.
In a 40-week trial funded by Eli Lilly, all three tested doses of the oral GLP-1 pill met the study's non-inferiority bar against a standard SGLT2 inhibitor and produced larger average HbA1c reductions, alongside more gastrointestinal side effects and discontinuations.
A phase 3 trial published in the New England Journal of Medicine found the approved MC4R agonist lowered BMI by 16.5% over 52 weeks in patients with obesity caused by hypothalamic tumors or injury, versus a 3.3% increase on placebo.
A systematic review of 262 trials and nearly 100,000 patients puts tirzepatide, semaglutide, CagriSema, orforglipron, and other peptide-based therapies side by side, and finds that larger weight loss usually comes with larger trade-offs.
A single investigational molecule engages three metabolic hormone receptors at once. Here is what the New England Journal of Medicine data actually showed, and what it does not.
A landmark outcomes study asked whether a GLP-1 peptide prevents heart attacks and strokes, not just weight. The 17,604-person answer reshaped how the class is viewed.
The pivotal obesity trial for tirzepatide reset expectations for what a single injectable peptide could achieve. A look at the actual numbers, endpoints, and caveats.