The short answer
A small trial found substantial weight reduction over 24 weeks. Digestive side effects were common, and longer-term questions remain.
Who was studied?
Researchers randomized 80 Chinese adults with obesity and without diabetes: 60 received mazdutide 9 mg weekly and 20 received placebo. Participants and researchers were blinded to treatment assignment.
Percent of starting weight
Original visual based on the study.
| Group or measure | Result |
|---|---|
| Mazdutide 9 mg | −12.78% |
| Placebo | +1.80% |
What changed?
At week 24, average weight fell 12.78% with mazdutide. The placebo group gained 1.80%.
The difference was therefore 14.58 percentage points. That is a comparison between groups, not the average weight loss in the mazdutide group.
What were the trade-offs?
Nausea affected 50% of mazdutide participants versus none receiving placebo. Diarrhoea occurred in 38.3% versus 10%, and vomiting in 36.7% versus 10%. These events were predominantly mild or moderate.
The useful takeaway
This was an early, short trial—not a head-to-head comparison with another weight-loss medicine. It cannot tell us how weight, side effects or adherence would change over years.
Sources
Ji and colleagues, Med, 2026. Sponsored by Innovent Biologics.