Novel Triple-Receptor Medication Shows Promise for Severe Triglyceride Reduction and Liver Health
A new investigational medication called DR10624 demonstrated significant reductions in triglyceride levels and liver fat in patients with severe hypertriglyceridemia, potentially offering a new treatment approach for a condition with limited current options.
An investigational medication called DR10624 reduced triglyceride levels by more than 60% in most patients with severe hypertriglyceridemia while also significantly improving liver fat content, according to preliminary research presented at the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions 2025. The findings suggest this first-of-its-kind triple-receptor targeting medication could address multiple metabolic challenges faced by patients with this difficult-to-treat condition.
The Phase 2 clinical trial involved 79 adults with severe hypertriglyceridemia, defined as triglyceride levels between 500-2,000 mg/dL. Participants received either weekly subcutaneous injections of DR10624 at varying doses or a placebo for 12 weeks. Results showed dramatic improvements across multiple measures: patients receiving the 12.5 mg dose achieved a 74.5% reduction in triglycerides, while the 25 mg and 50 mg titration doses produced 66.2% and 68.9% reductions respectively, compared to only 8.0% reduction in the placebo group.
What makes DR10624 particularly innovative is its mechanism of action as the first medication to simultaneously activate three different receptors linked to triglyceride metabolism: FGF21, glucagon and GLP-1 receptors. This multi-target approach appears to address both triglyceride levels and associated liver complications. Patients treated with DR10624 showed a 63.5% reduction in liver fat, a crucial finding since many people with severe hypertriglyceridemia also develop excess liver fat leading to metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD).
The clinical implications are substantial, as current treatments for severe hypertriglyceridemia including fibrates, concentrated omega-3 fatty acids, and statins often provide insufficient triglyceride lowering and limited effects on liver fat. Additionally, there are no standard therapeutic treatments for MASLD and only one FDA-approved therapy for metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH). The study found that 89.5% of DR10624 patients achieved triglyceride levels below 500 mg/dL compared to only 25.0% of placebo patients, and 78.5% of DR10624 patients had greater than 50% reduction in triglycerides since enrollment.
Lead study author Jianping Li, M.D., Ph.D., from Peking University First Hospital in China, noted that "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." The medication's ability to target multiple metabolic pathways simultaneously suggests potential for combination therapies with other medications, particularly for patients with additional conditions like Type 2 diabetes, obesity, and cardiovascular disease.
The study, while promising, has limitations including its short 12-week duration, small sample size, and exclusive focus on participants from Mainland China. Researchers emphasize that longer-term trials with more diverse populations are needed to confirm these preliminary findings. The most common side effects were gastrointestinal issues such as nausea or stomach upset, which are typical with medications targeting GLP-1 receptors. Additional information about the study can be found in the American Heart Association Scientific Sessions 2025 Online Program Planner.