Allurion Surged 136% Pre-Market After Successful Combo GLP-1 Therapy Pre-Clinical Results

Allurion Technologies shares more than doubled in pre-market trading as the mixed GLP-1 tech demonstrated significant weight loss and an increase in lean body mass. 

The company announced on Thursday its intention to initiate a clinical study on combining the Allurion Program with GLP-1 agonists to improve muscle mass and overall body composition.

Previous studies in patients undergoing GLP-1 therapy have demonstrated reductions in lean mass of approximately 40% as a proportion of total weight lost. In contrast, patients treated with the Allurion Balloon, combined with the Allurion Virtual Care Suite, have shown strong outcomes, where they lost weight while maintaining, and in some cases increasing, muscle mass, according to the company's statement. 

In one study of 571 patients, those treated with the Allurion Balloon gained 5.6% in lean body mass while losing 14% of their total body weight over four months. In another study of 167 patients, those treated with the Allurion Balloon experienced a weight reduction of 15.7% with no change in muscle mass.

For comparison, most people taking 1.7-mg and 2.4-mg doses of Novo's Wegovy lost 5% to 15% of their body weight after 68 weeks (14 months) of treatment.

"Reductions in lean mass and muscle wasting are significant unmet needs in the GLP-1 space, and our early data suggests that we may have a powerful tool for achieving more metabolically healthy weight loss," said Dr. Shantanu Gaur, Founder and CEO of Allurion. "The goal of our study is to prove that by combining the Allurion Balloon and Allurion Virtual Care Suite with GLP-1 therapy, patients can lose significant weight while increasing muscle mass and improving overall body composition. We are optimistic that this would be a significant addition to the possibilities of GLP-1 therapies and, if proven, could become the gold standard for obesity care."

Allurion Technologies is a growing healthcare company headquartered in Natick, with offices in Paris and Dubai. Allurion has created the world's first full-stack weight-loss platform, featuring the Allurion Gastric Balloon, the world's first and only swallowable, procedure-less gastric balloon for weight loss. The company has seen revenues increase 100% year over year from 2016 to 2021, according to its website.