New Multi-Receptor Medication Shows Promising Results in Reducing Triglycerides and Liver Fat

According to preliminary research presented at the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions 2025, a new investigational medication called DR10624 reduced triglyceride levels by more than 60% in most patients with severe hypertriglyceridemia during a 12-week clinical trial. The medication represents a first-of-its-kind approach by simultaneously activating three different receptors - FGF21, glucagon and GLP-1 receptors - all involved in regulating how the body processes fats and sugars.

The study involved 79 adults with severe hypertriglyceridemia, characterized by triglyceride levels between 500-2,000 mg/dL, who were randomly assigned to receive either weekly subcutaneous injections of DR10624 at varying doses or a placebo. Patients receiving DR10624 showed dramatic improvements across multiple health measures. Those receiving the 12.5 mg dose experienced a 74.5% reduction in triglycerides, while the 25 mg and 50 mg titration doses resulted in 66.2% and 68.9% reductions respectively, compared to only 8.0% reduction in the placebo group.

Beyond triglyceride reduction, the medication demonstrated significant benefits for liver health. Patients treated with DR10624 showed a 63.5% reduction in liver fat, compared to only 8.4% in the placebo group. This finding is particularly important because many people with severe hypertriglyceridemia also have excess fat in the liver, leading to conditions like metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH). Currently, there are no standard therapeutic treatments for MASLD and only one FDA-approved therapy for MASH.

The clinical implications of these findings are substantial. High triglyceride levels combined with high LDL cholesterol or low HDL cholesterol are linked to fatty buildup in artery walls, increasing the risk of heart attack, stroke, and pancreatitis. Current treatments for high triglycerides include fibrates, concentrated omega-3 fatty acids, and statins, but these often provide insufficient triglyceride lowering and limited effects on liver fat. As lead study author Jianping Li, M.D., Ph.D., explained, "Severe hypertriglyceridemia is often difficult to manage with existing treatments, so access to more treatment choices are crucial for improving patient outcomes as well as quality of life."

The study results showed that 89.5% of patients receiving DR10624 achieved triglyceride levels below 500 mg/dL, compared to only 25.0% of placebo patients. Additionally, 78.5% of DR10624 patients achieved greater than 50% reduction in triglycerides since enrollment, versus only 5% of placebo patients. Patients also showed improvements in other lipid measures including total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, non-HDL cholesterol and triglyceride-rich lipoprotein cholesterol.

While the medication showed promising efficacy, researchers noted some limitations. The most common side effects were gastrointestinal issues such as nausea or stomach upset, which are typical with medications targeting GLP-1 receptors. The study duration was relatively short at 12 weeks, and the trial included only 79 participants, all from Mainland China, limiting the generalizability of findings. The research team emphasized that longer-term trials with more diverse populations are needed to fully assess safety and efficacy.

Looking forward, researchers suggest DR10624 could become part of combination therapies with other medications. As Li noted, "Given that DR10624 targets multiple metabolic pathways simultaneously, it could be a strong candidate for combination therapies with other medications. For example, pairing it with glucose-lowering medications, such as SGLT2 inhibitors or DPP-4 inhibitors, might improve overall metabolic control in patients with other conditions, such as Type 2 diabetes, obesity and/or cardiovascular disease." Additional information about the study can be found in the American Heart Association Scientific Sessions 2025 Online Program Planner.