Summary
Three doses beat placebo for weight loss. The lowest did not show a clear advantage.
Study
Researchers randomized 235 Chinese adults with obesity, without diabetes, to four daily tablet doses or placebo. All received lifestyle guidance.
Hypothetical analysis; percent of starting weight
Original visual based on the study.
| Group or measure | Result |
|---|---|
| 30 mg | 2.99% |
| 60 mg | 7.09% |
| 120 mg | 6.17% |
| 180 mg | 9.36% |
| Placebo | 2.50% |
Results at 26 weeks
The main analysis excluded measurements after stopping treatment or starting prohibited weight-loss medicines. Missing results required assumptions; these are not outcomes regardless of stopping.
Trade-offs
Across 36 weeks, digestive events affected 38–65% of HRS-7535 participants versus 15% with placebo. Five receiving HRS-7535 stopped because of adverse events. Serious events, including one death following a physical altercation, were judged unrelated to treatment.
Takeaway
These results support further testing, not superiority over established medicines. Participants were young, all were Chinese, and the trial did not compare active medicines.
Sources
Gu and colleagues, Nature Communications, 2026. Jiangsu Hengrui funded the research; employees contributed trial oversight, statistics and medical writing.