A gene therapy designed to make your own cells produce GLP-1 — the hormone targeted by drugs like Ozempic — is entering human trials in Europe. Fractyl Health received EU approval to begin Phase 1/2 testing of RJVA-001, with first patients enrolling June 1. Unlike weekly injections, this approach requires just one administration. Meanwhile, the broader obesity drug landscape is expanding fast: oral GLP-1 pills from Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly recently gained FDA approval, and next-generation multi-action drugs like Retatrutide showed nearly 29% average weight loss in trials. The field is moving from managing obesity chronically to potentially resolving it with a single intervention.
