Preliminary research presented at the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions 2025 indicates that a new medication called DR10624 reduced triglyceride levels by more than 60% in most patients with severe hypertriglyceridemia during a 12-week clinical trial. The study involved 79 adults with triglyceride levels between 500-2,000 mg/dL and also showed a 63.5% reduction in liver fat among patients receiving the experimental treatment.
DR10624 represents a novel approach to treating severe hypertriglyceridemia by simultaneously activating three different receptors: FGF21, glucagon and GLP-1 receptors. This triple-receptor targeting distinguishes it from existing treatments and marks the first investigational medication of its kind to address all three metabolic pathways at once. Current treatments for high triglyceride levels include fibrates, concentrated omega-3 fatty acids and statins, but these often provide insufficient triglyceride lowering and limited effects on liver fat.
The randomized, double-blind study assigned participants to receive either weekly subcutaneous injections of DR10624 at one of three doses or a placebo. Results showed dramatic differences between treatment groups. Patients receiving the 12.5 mg dose achieved a 74.5% reduction in triglycerides, while those receiving 25 mg and 50 mg doses showed reductions of 66.2% and 68.9% respectively. The placebo group demonstrated only an 8.0% reduction. Additionally, 89.5% of DR10624 patients achieved triglyceride levels below 500 mg/dL compared to only 25.0% in the placebo group.
Beyond triglyceride reduction, the medication showed significant benefits for liver health. The 63.5% reduction in liver fat observed in the treatment group contrasts sharply with the 8.4% reduction 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.
Lead study author Jianping Li, M.D., Ph.D., from Peking University First Hospital in China, emphasized the potential impact of these findings. "DR10624 could become a game-changer for patients with severe hypertriglyceridemia by reducing long-term risks of pancreatitis, as well as conditions like MASLD and cardiovascular disease," Li stated. "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 did note some limitations, including its short duration of only 12 weeks and the small, homogeneous study population consisting entirely of participants from Mainland China. The most common side effects were gastrointestinal issues such as nausea or stomach upset, which are typical with medications targeting GLP-1 receptors. Researchers suggested that gradually increasing the dose over several weeks might help alleviate these symptoms in future studies.
Looking ahead, the researchers plan longer-term trials with more diverse populations to further assess safety and efficacy. Li also noted the potential for combination therapies, suggesting that pairing DR10624 with glucose-lowering medications like SGLT2 inhibitors or DPP-4 inhibitors might improve overall metabolic control in patients with additional conditions such as Type 2 diabetes, obesity or cardiovascular disease. Additional information about the study can be found in the American Heart Association Scientific Sessions 2025 Online Program Planner.
