A new experimental injection is gaining attention after researchers reported an average 12.01% reduction in visceral abdominal fat four weeks after treatment.
Taiwan-based Caliway Biopharmaceuticals developed CBL-514, which targets fat cells by causing them to die. Scientists are also studying whether the treatment could help reduce weight regain after stopping medications such as tirzepatide.
The findings come as the popularity of Wegovy and Zepbound continues to reshape expectations for obesity treatment.
The latest results offer a first look at a different approach to fat reduction, with scientists examining its effectiveness, safety and possible future applications.
The results were presented at the annual meeting of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes in Milan, held from September 28 to October 2, 2026. The treatment remains experimental and has not received verified U.S. regulatory approval.
Scientists report promising reductions in abdominal fat
CBL-514 works through apoptosis, a biological process that triggers programmed cell death in fat-storing cells called adipocytes.
Researchers are studying its effects on visceral fat, which surrounds internal organs, and subcutaneous fat, which is found under the skin.
Dr. W. Timothy Garvey of the University of Alabama at Birmingham, who participated in the research, called the approach promising.
“This is a very innovative approach to obesity pharmacotherapy that has produced remarkable results in early human trials,” Garvey said.
Garvey and Caliway’s Yu Fang Ling analyzed MRI data from two phase 2 trials in which participants received abdominal injections every three weeks for up to 12 weeks.
The analysis initially included 41 participants: 23 received CBL-514 and 18 received a placebo. At subsequent evaluation, data remained available for 40 participants, including 23 treated participants and 17 placebo recipients.
Four weeks after treatment, the average volume of visceral fat had decreased by 12.01% in the treated group, compared to an increase of 5.68% in the placebo group.
Between 8 and 12 weeks, the treated group showed a reduction of 10.45%, while the placebo group showed an increase of 11.76%.
Excess visceral fat is associated with metabolic conditions, including type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. However, the study did not establish whether CBL-514 reduced the risk of developing these conditions.
An earlier trial revealed what the scale was missing
A separate clinical study found that measurable reductions in localized abdominal fat occurred despite relatively small changes in participants’ overall body weight.
Published in Aesthetic Surgery Journal in 2025, the phase 2 trial randomly assigned 76 participants to receive CBL-514 or a placebo, with treatments administered every four weeks.
Unlike the more recent analysis, this study focused on subcutaneous abdominal fat.
Eight weeks after treatment, 69.6% of the CBL-514 recipients evaluated had lost at least 150 milliliters of abdominal fat, compared to none of the placebo recipients evaluated.
The treatment group’s average body weight increased by 0.45 kilograms at four weeks and by 0.02 kilograms at eight weeks.
Meanwhile, the placebo group’s average weight decreased by 0.76 kilograms and 0.26 kilograms during the same assessments.
The results distinguish the treatment’s demonstrated effects on specific fat deposits from the substantial overall weight reduction typically associated with established obesity medications.
Related: 6 Benefits of Working Out That Go Far Beyond Weight Loss
Animal experiments increase possibilities of weight maintenance
Photo credit: Elnur_/Deposit Photos
Early animal experiments suggest that CBL-514 could potentially complement existing obesity drugs, although this potential benefit has not been demonstrated in humans.
At the American Diabetes Association Scientific Meeting in June 2026, Caliway presented results of research examining CBL-514 alongside tirzepatide, the active ingredient in Mounjaro and Zepbound.
In the company’s OI25 experiment, animals receiving tirzepatide alone experienced a 46.1% weight regain after discontinuation, according to the study’s measurement method.
Those who received CBL-514 in combination with tirzepatide experienced a 17.1% weight regain.
This was about 2.7 times the gain than in the tirzepatide-only group.
The results point to another direction of research: strategies to maintain results after stopping obesity medications.
Independent experts identify important unanswered questions
Researchers outside the development program say the broader metabolic effects and long-term safety of the treatment require further research.
Dr Marie Spreckley of the University of Cambridge cautioned that current human results do not establish improved health outcomes.
Professor Justin Rochford from the University of Aberdeen wondered whether reducing fat storage cells could affect fat distribution, liver fat or blood sugar regulation.
Their comments, published by the Science Media Center on October 1, identified areas that require investigation rather than confirmed harmful effects.
Reported clinical trials have primarily revealed temporary reactions at the injection site, including pain, redness, and swelling. No serious adverse events were reported in the studies analyzed.
CBL-514 has entered a larger clinical development program. Its registered Phase 3 SUPREME 01 trial was recruiting in September 2026 and planned to enroll approximately 320 adults.
The study focuses on evaluating effectiveness and safety. No verified date has been established for commercial availability in the United States.
The growing interest in CBL-514 reflects a broader issue that is emerging alongside advances in obesity medicine. As researchers develop new ways to influence the body’s fat storage systems, attention is now shifting to approaches that can produce lasting results.
Could future treatments change not only how weight is lost, but also how successful those results are?
More articles you might like:
The new injection reduces belly fat without major weight loss. Scientists Test What Happens Next appeared first on FODMAP Everyday.
Gn Health
