Christoffer Merrild

PhD-fellow Clemmensen Group @Metabolcenter

Basic Researcher | Founder | Ecosystem Builder

[Nature Metabolism @NatMetabolism]

Cagrilintide and retatrutide combination therapy enhances weight loss and metabolic outcomes in obese male rats https://t.co/2C3ldRZuyv

[Christoffer Merrild @Chr_Merrild]

6/6

This also builds the case for next-gen single molecules engaging all 5 receptors at once.
Enormously grateful to PI @ClemmensenC, co-first author @OdgaardJonas & the teams at @Metabolcenter + Fritzen Group at BMI 🙏

Read it: https://t.co/33pD6U2vyb

[Christoffer Merrild @Chr_Merrild]

It's out! Cagrilintide + retatrutide combo therapy enhances weight loss & metabolic outcomes in obese rats.
Today's obesity meds mostly hit 1-2 hormone receptors (GLP-1 ± GIP). Effective, but higher doses = more side effects, and many patients still don't reach a healthy weight.

[Christoffer Merrild @Chr_Merrild]

5/6

Why it matters: balanced multi-hormone combos (not just ever-higher doses) may give strong weight loss with a more homeostatic response & fewer side effects.

[Christoffer Merrild @Chr_Merrild]

4/6

3) Pair-feeding/weight-matching studies showed the enhanced weight loss can't be explained by eating less alone

4) Plasma proteomics showed enrichment of bioenergetic processes; brain transcriptomics revealed convergent neuronal programmes for energy balance

[Christoffer Merrild @Chr_Merrild]

3/6

Key findings:
1.Daily co-administration synergized to produce dose-dependent reductions in body weight & food intake

2.The combination improved circulating markers of metabolic health

[Christoffer Merrild @Chr_Merrild]

2/6

What if instead of maximizing one pathway, you combine complementary ones?
We paired retatrutide (GLP-1R/GIPR/GCGR triagonist) with cagrilintide (AMLNR/CALCR co-agonist) — together engaging 5 hormone receptors — in diet-induced obese rats.

[Christoffer Merrild @Chr_Merrild]

I'm proud to have done this work with @JohansenVBI under the supervision and guidance of @pranea and @ClemmensenC at @Metabolcenter:

Curious to learn more? Read it here: https://t.co/dtN2rVUbFF

[Christoffer Merrild @Chr_Merrild]

In our recent paper in @JPhysiol, we show that FGF21-glucagon signalling drives sex-specific effects on weight loss and glucose tolerance in obese mice, and uncover an FGF21-deficiency–driven susceptibility to obesity in females.

[Christoffer Clemmensen @ClemmensenC]

1/4 New paper out in @MolMetab in which we show that calorie restriction before starting treatment with semaglutide or tirzepatide pushes maximum achievable weight loss by ~8% https://t.co/sVjfY5jdnD

[Christoffer Merrild @Chr_Merrild]

If you’re interested in obesity pharmacology, check out our latest publication! We explored how pre-treatment calorie restriction, combined with leading obesity medications, enhances weight loss in a rodent obesity model. It’s a concise and insightful read!

[Christoffer Clemmensen @ClemmensenC]

1/4 New paper out in @MolMetab in which we show that calorie restriction before starting treatment with semaglutide or tirzepatide pushes maximum achievable weight loss by ~8% https://t.co/sVjfY5jdnD

[Christoffer Clemmensen @ClemmensenC]

4/4 Great team work by PhD students and postdocs @OdgaardJonas @Chr_Merrild @jens_lund and @StephanieKHolm supported by @Metabolcenter @UCPH_health and @novonordiskfond

[Christoffer Merrild @Chr_Merrild]

@ClemmensenC @VBIJohansen @UCPH_health @Metabolcenter Very excited to be a part of your amazing team!

[Christoffer Clemmensen @ClemmensenC]

Thrilled to welcome these two talented MSc students to our Lab after the summer. Passion and innovative thinking to ignite new ideas and discoveries🧠🧠 @Chr_Merrild and @VBIJohansen
@UCPH_health @Metabolcenter

[Journal of Physiology @JPhysiol]

How does a high-fat diet impair hepatic Ca2+ signalling? @Chr_Merrild and @VBIJohansen (@UCPH_health) show how in this article!
📜https://t.co/lyIp43a98n

[Valdemar B. I. Johansen @JohansenVBI]

So much fun to dive into this research with my favourite study pal @Chr_Merrild 🧬🧐