MD-18 achieved all goals during clinical trial testing and is being developed as a next generation treatment for cardiovascular and metabolic health.
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Radella Pharmaceuticals announced its Phase 1b clinical trial of MD-18 achieved significant weight loss along with cardiometabolic improvements amongst participants. MD-18 targets obesity and type 2 diabetes while providing a clean and safe tolerability profile.

Daniel Cohen, founder and chief executive officer of Radella, discussed the importance of the results from the clinical trials, saying, "These data validate MD-18 as a next-generation approach to cardiovascular and metabolic health. Participants lost weight and waist circumference and saw improvements in cholesterol and insulin measures. These findings indicate that MD-18 may offer pan-cardiometabolic benefits for common obesity co-morbidities, including heart disease and diabetes."¹

Exciting outlooks

MD-18, a first-in-class peptide employs a dual-pronged procedure escalating insulin sensitivity while increasing energy expenditure through reactivation of leptin signaling (often hindered by obesity) through accurate modulation of PTP1B enzymes. Radella believes MD-18 entices the user’s body to burn calories already stored within the body, leading to the desired weight loss results while still maintaining lean muscle mass. This is MD-18’s most notable distinction from other GLP-1 receptor agonists, as other GLP-1s focus on weight reduction through appetite suppression and are commonly linked to decreases in lean muscle mass and tolerability concerns.

The Phase 1b clinical trials, conducted as double-blind placebo-controlling with ascending dosage, registered healthy participants receiving either the placebo or an ascending dosage of MD-18. The trials, spanning four weeks without titration, were held at the Sheba Medical Center in Israel.

Initial results from the trials revealed:

• 2.7% weight loss in healthy participants in 28 days.
• Trial data revealed MD-18 has potential to sustainably adipose tissue loss while simultaneously retaining the users lean muscle mass.
• MD-18 displayed the ability to lower LDL cholesterol levels in patients.
• Results showed MD-18 can significantly decrease levels of alanine aminotransferase compared to its placebo counterpart suggesting MD-18’s potential to decrease liver fat.
• During testing, all drug related adverse events were listed as mild (Grade 1) with most gastrointestinal events showing similarities between the placebo and MD-18.

Not like the others

MD-18 aims to reinstitute metabolic signaling by targeting PTP1B modulation, with MD-18 demonstrating in both preclinical models and clinical trials increased insulin sensitivity, lower cholesterol levels, and reductions in alanine aminotransferase. According to the CDC, upwards of two-in-five American adults suffer from obesity; while also being diagnosed with additional chronic conditions such as high blood pressure, heart disease, and diabetes, these additional biomarkers highlight MD-18’s capabilities beyond weight loss.

Following the results of MD-18’s Phase 1b clinical trials, Radella expects to initiate an additional two cohorts into its intent-to-treat population. The additional cohorts will include patients without type 2 diabetes, patients who are overweight, and patients that are overweight and diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. Trials will again administer participants with placebo or a single weekly injection of MD-18 with trials scheduled for 12 weeks.

Sources

1. Radella Pharmaceuticals Announces New Obesity Trial Data Showing Statistically Significant Weight Loss and Broader Cardiometabolic Benefits Radella Pharmaceuticals July 31, 2025 https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/radella-pharmaceuticals-announces-new-obesity-trial-data-showing-statistically-significant-weight-loss-and-broader-cardiometabolic-benefits-302518340.html