Experimental CBL-514 Injection Shrinks Harmful Visceral Fat by About 12% in Early Human Study

In a phase-2 human trial, the experimental drug CBL-514 was administered via abdominal injections every three weeks, with doses adjusted to each participant’s fat thickness, up to a maximum of 600 mg. The treatment induces apoptosis selectively in fat cells, sparing surrounding tissue. MRI assessments showed participants receiving CBL-514 experienced an average 12.01% reduction in visceral fat, whereas those given a placebo exhibited a 5.68% increase.

Additional benefits included modest weight loss, reduced blood pressure, and better cholesterol profiles. The research was conducted by Dr. W. Timothy Garvey of the University of Alabama at Birmingham and Yu-Fang Ling of Caliway Biopharmaceuticals in New Taipei City, Taiwan. Prior phase-2 work had already demonstrated subcutaneous-fat loss, but this is the first evidence of visceral-fat reduction, a risk factor that liposuction cannot address.