2026 american diabetes association (ada) scientific sessions
On June 8, Innovent Biologics announced the results of the Phase III DREAMS-3 head-to-head trial of Mazdutide vs Semaglutide at the 2026 American Diabetes Association Scientific Sessions (ADA 2026).
The study evaluated the efficacy differences between the GCG/GLP-1 dual receptor agonist Mazdutide (Xinermei®) and the GLP-1 receptor agonist Semaglutide in Chinese patients with type 2 diabetes with obesity (diabesity).
Results showed that, during the 32-week treatment period, Mazdutide achieved statistical superiority over Semaglutide on the combined endpoint of HbA1c reduction and weight loss, while also demonstrating consistent improvements across multiple secondary metabolic endpoints.
Chinese pharmaceutical wholesaler DengYueMed has compiled and reported the key findings of the DREAMS-3 study and the evolving metabolic treatment landscape based on publicly available clinical data and ADA 2026 conference materials.
Diabesity: A Growing Metabolic Disease Burden
Type 2 diabetes with obesity, commonly referred to as diabesity, is a highly prevalent metabolic condition characterized by insulin resistance, chronic hyperglycemia, and excess fat accumulation.
Patients with diabesity often face increased risks of: 🔽
Cardiovascular disease
Fatty liver disease and liver dysfunction
Chronic kidney disease
Although current glucose-lowering therapies can effectively improve blood sugar control, limitations remain in long-term weight management and fat metabolism improvement, making it difficult for some patients to achieve comprehensive metabolic targets.
Against this backdrop, therapies capable of simultaneously regulating glucose control and energy metabolism have become an important focus in metabolic disease research.
diabesity continues to create a growing burden on metabolic disease treatment
DREAMS-3 Study Design: Head-to-Head Evaluation of Mazdutide vs Semaglutide Efficacy
DREAMS-3 is a multicenter, randomized, open-label Phase III clinical trial and the first study to directly compare a GCG/GLP-1 dual receptor agonist with a traditional GLP-1 single-pathway therapy in patients with type 2 diabetes with obesity.
The trial enrolled 329 Chinese adult patients with diabesity who exhibited representative real-world metabolic characteristics: 👇
The treatment duration was 32 weeks, with evaluation of both glycemic and weight-related metabolic endpoints.
Mazdutide vs Semaglutide: Key Efficacy Comparison
The study met its primary endpoint. In the DREAMS-3 trial, Mazdutide showed significantly higher composite metabolic target achievement rates compared with Semaglutide, while also demonstrating advantages in individual glycemic and weight-loss outcomes.
Regarding safety, adverse events in both groups were primarily mild-to-moderate gastrointestinal reactions, and no new safety signals were observed.
The DREAMS-3 data further strengthen the growing discussion around Mazdutide vs Semaglutide in the treatment of type 2 diabetes with obesity.
Mechanistic Differences: Advantages of Dual-Pathway Metabolic Regulation
The core difference between Mazdutide and Semaglutide lies in the depth of metabolic regulation.
Mazdutide works through the synergistic activation of GLP-1 and GCG pathways, enabling:
Appetite suppression and increased energy expenditure
Blood glucose control and fat mobilization
Improvement in visceral fat and hepatic fat metabolism
By comparison, Semaglutide mainly relies on the GLP-1 pathway for glucose regulation and appetite suppression, with a more focused but relatively narrower metabolic mechanism.
🎯 This mechanistic distinction is considered an important biological basis behind the efficacy differences observed in the Mazdutide vs Semaglutide head-to-head trial presented at ADA 2026.
Mazdutide and Semaglutide: Drug Background and Mechanisms
1. Mazdutide
Mazdutide is the world’s first approved GCG/GLP-1 dual receptor agonist, jointly developed by Innovent Biologics and Eli Lilly and Company.
GCG receptors: increasing energy expenditure, promoting fat oxidation, and improving hepatic lipid metabolism
✅ Approved indications in China include:
Long-term weight management in overweight or obese adults
Blood glucose control in type 2 diabetes
Clinical trial findings related to Mazdutide have been published in leading journals including Nature, The New England Journal of Medicine, and JAMA.
The drug is also being investigated in additional Phase III studies involving metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD), obstructive sleep apnea, and higher-dose obesity treatment strategies.
The growing clinical interest in Mazdutide vs Semaglutide reflects broader industry attention toward next-generation dual-pathway metabolic therapies.
Cardiovascular risk reduction in selected regions and indications
Semaglutide has become one of the foundational therapies in modern metabolic disease treatment and remains a key benchmark in ongoing Mazdutide vs Semaglutide comparisons.
semaglutide
Global Obesity Drug Landscape: From GLP-1 Single Targets to Multi-Target Therapies
The global metabolic disease market is currently undergoing a rapid transition from GLP-1 single-target therapies toward multi-target metabolic approaches.
👉 GLP-1 receptor agonists represented by Semaglutide helped drive the modern era of obesity and metabolic treatment, establishing an important clinical foundation in glycemic control, weight management, and cardiovascular benefit.
👉 Subsequently, GIP/GLP-1 dual receptor agonists represented by Tirzepatide further improved weight-loss efficacy and accelerated the industry’s shift into the “dual-target competition” era.
In contrast, Mazdutide has taken a differentiated pathway.
Through its GCG/GLP-1 dual-pathway mechanism, Mazdutide not only lowers blood glucose and reduces body weight, but also increases energy expenditure, promotes fat oxidation, and improves hepatic lipid metabolism and visceral fat distribution, leading to broader metabolic benefits.
In addition, Innovent Biologics has initiated higher-dose clinical studies comparing Mazdutide with Tirzepatide in patients with moderate-to-severe obesity, highlighting its further positioning in the next phase of global obesity drug competition.
Conclusion
The DREAMS-3 trial demonstrated that, in patients with type 2 diabetes with obesity, Mazdutide achieved superior outcomes to Semaglutide in both glycemic control and weight reduction.
These findings not only validate the clinical potential of GCG/GLP-1 dual receptor agonists, but also highlight the continued evolution of multi-target metabolic therapies in diabesity treatment.
As additional indications and clinical studies continue to progress, the long-term discussion surrounding Mazdutide vs Semaglutide is expected to play an increasingly important role in shaping future metabolic disease management strategies.
Chinese pharmaceutical wholesaler DengYueMed will continue monitoring the latest developments in metabolic disease therapies and innovative medicines while supporting cross-border pharmaceutical distribution and supply chain accessibility for related treatments.
FAQ about Mazdutide vs Semaglutide
What percentage of people lose weight on Mazdutide?
In the Phase III DREAMS-3 trial presented at ADA 2026, patients treated with Mazdutide achieved an average weight reduction of 10.3% after 32 weeks of treatment. In addition, 80.6% of participants achieved at least 5% weight loss, while 51.2% achieved weight loss of 10% or greater.
What is the difference between mazdutide and semaglutide?
The main difference is that mazdutide targets both GLP-1 and GCG receptors, while semaglutide mainly targets GLP-1 receptors. This may give mazdutide broader metabolic and weight-loss effects.
What is mazdutide used for?
Mazdutide is used for blood sugar control in adults with type 2 diabetes and for long-term weight management in people with overweight or obesity.
Can mazdutide be used for weight loss alone?
Yes. Mazdutide has been approved in China for long-term weight management in adults with overweight or obesity, even without type 2 diabetes in eligible patients.
