Effect of beinaglutide, a thrice-daily GLP-1 receptor agonist, on body weight and metabolic parameters: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND

Beinaglutide, a short-acting glucagon-like polypeptide-1 receptor agonist, has shown variable efficacy in weight reduction and metabolic control in randomized controlled trials (RCTs).

AIM: To summarize the therapeutic effects of beinaglutide in patients with overweight/obesity with/without type 2 diabetes.

METHODS

RCTs involving patients receiving beinaglutide in the intervention arm and placebo or active comparator in the control arm were searched through multiple electronic databases. The change from baseline in body weight was the primary outcome; secondary outcomes included changes in body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), blood pressure, glycemic parameters, lipids, and adverse events (AEs). RevMan web was used to conduct meta-analysis using random-effects models. Outcomes were presented as mean differences (MDs), odds ratios (ORs), or risk ratios (RRs) with 95% confidence intervals (95%CIs).

RESULTS

Six RCTs (n = 800) with mostly some concerns about the risk of bias were included. Over 12-24 weeks, beinaglutide 0.1-0.2 mg thrice daily was superior to the control group in reducing total (MD = -3.25 kg, 95%CI: -4.52 to -1.98, I 2 = 84%, P < 0.00001) and percent (MD = -4.13%, 95%CI: -4.87 to -3.39, I 2 = 54%, P < 0.00001) body weight reduction. Beinaglutide also outperformed the control group in achieving weight loss by 5% (OR 4.61) and 10% (OR = 5.34). The superiority of beinaglutide vs the control group was also found in reducing BMI (MD = -1.22 kg/m2, 95%CI: -1.67 to -0.77) and WC (MD = -2.47 cm, 95%CI: -3.74 to -1.19]). Beinaglutide and the control group had comparable impacts on blood pressure, glycemic parameters, insulin resistance, hepatic transaminases, and lipid profile. Beinaglutide posed higher risks of treatment discontinuation due to AEs (RR = 3.15), nausea (RR = 4.51), vomiting (RR = 8.19), palpitation (RR = 3.95), headache (RR = 2.87), and dizziness (RR = 6.07) than the control. However, the two groups had identical risks of total and serious AEs, diarrhea, fatigue, and hypoglycemia.

CONCLUSION

Short-term data from RCTs suggested that beinaglutide causes modest benefits in reducing body weight, BMI, and WC, with no significant difference in glycemic and other metabolic endpoints compared to the control arm. Safety data were consistent with those of the other drugs in the glucagon-like polypeptide-1 receptor agonist class. Larger RCTs are warranted to prove the longer-term metabolic benefits of beinaglutide.