Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40769876›Full record

Trial reportObesity (Silver Spring, Md.)2025

The Supportive Effect of Acarbose to Orlistat in Weight Management-A Randomized, Double-Blind, Multiarm Phase 2 Trial.

Ulf Holmbäck, Stefan Grudén, Sandra Kuusk, Helena Litorp, Joakim Englund, Arvid Söderhäll, Göran Alderborn, Anders Forslund

Abstract readRandomized Controlled TrialClinical Trial, Phase II
In one paragraph

Trial report in Obesity (Silver Spring, Md.), 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Trial
  2. Trial
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Ulf HolmbäckDepartment of Public Health and Caring Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
Stefan GrudénEmpros Pharma AB, Solna, Sweden.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7532-6465
Sandra KuuskClinical Trial Consultants AB, Uppsala, Sweden.
Helena LitorpClinical Trial Consultants AB, Uppsala, Sweden.
Joakim EnglundClinical Trial Consultants AB, Uppsala, Sweden.
Arvid SöderhällEmpros Pharma AB, Solna, Sweden.
Göran AlderbornDepartment of Pharmaceutical Biosciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
Anders ForslundDepartment of Women's and Children's Health, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.

Funding

Empros Pharma
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveThis study aimed to evaluate the added effect of acarbose to orlistat on relative weight loss in the novel antiobesity medication EMP16.

methodsIn this 6-month double-blind trial, 240 individuals with obesity or overweight and comorbidities were randomized equally into three groups: (1) EMP16 (120 mg modified release orlistat/40 mg modified release acarbose), (2) MR-O (120 mg modified release orlistat), and (3) Conv-O (120 mg conventional orlistat). The primary outcomes were relative and categorical weight loss after 6 months.

resultsMean relative weight loss was -7.73% for the EMP16 group as compared to -5.78% for the MR-O group and -5.13% for the Conv-O group (p < 0.01). Proportion achieving ≥ 5% or ≥ 10% weight reduction was 61%/32% in EMP16 group, compared to 51%/20% in the MR-O and 48%/12% in the Conv-O group (p > 0.05 for ≥ 10%). All groups showed small improvements in glucose and lipid markers, with EMP16 demonstrating greater improvement in fatty liver index and quality of life compared to Conv-O (p < 0.01). No serious adverse events occurred; most AEs were mild and transient.

conclusionsAcarbose enhances the weight loss efficacy of EMP16, supporting its potential as a safe and effective treatment for long-term obesity management.

trial registrationEU Clinical Trials Register: EudraCT-nr. 2022-003320-40.

Indexed as

AcarboseAnti-Obesity AgentsObesityOrlistatAdultBlood GlucoseDouble-Blind MethodDrug Therapy, CombinationFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedOverweightTreatment OutcomeWeight LossAcarboseAnti-Obesity AgentsBlood GlucoseOrlistat

Identifiers

PMID40769876
PMCPMC12477108

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.