In Amgen's 52-week phase 2 study, people with obesity without diabetes lost an average of 16.3% to 19.9% of body weight if they stayed on treatment, or 12.3% to 16.2% counting everyone who started, vs about 2.5% on placebo [2].
MariTide (maridebart cafraglutide) is an investigational Amgen drug, an antibody joined to peptides, that activates the GLP-1 receptor and blocks the GIP receptor, studied as a shot given monthly or less often [3] [4].
When will MariTide be available?
Amgen's second-quarter 2026 report lists the two main weight trials, MARITIME-1 (adults without type 2 diabetes) and MARITIME-2 (adults with type 2 diabetes), as ongoing [4]. That report gives no readout or FDA filing date [4].
After a filing, FDA says its review team has 6 to 10 months to decide on a complete application [5]. So no approval date can exist yet, and any site that gives one is guessing. Follow every drug's stage in our GLP-1 pipeline tracker. Novo Nordisk's CagriSema and amycretin and Boehringer Ingelheim's survodutide are covered on their own pages.
MariTide trial results
These are phase 2 results, reported by Amgen at 52 weeks. Amgen gave two averages: the efficacy estimand assumes people stayed on treatment, and the treatment policy estimand counts everyone who started [2].
| Group | MariTide, if people stayed on it | MariTide, everyone who started | Placebo | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Obesity without type 2 diabetes | -16.3% to -19.9% | -12.3% to -16.2% | -2.6%; -2.5% | [2] |
| Obesity with type 2 diabetes | -12.1% to -17.0% | -8.4% to -12.3% | -1.4%; -1.7% | [2] |
In people with type 2 diabetes, A1C fell by up to 2.2 points, and Amgen said weight loss had not leveled off by week 52 [2]. Phase 2 trials are smaller than phase 3, and the phase 3 results may differ.
MariTide side effects in the trials
Amgen reported no new safety signals. Side effects were mostly stomach-related, mostly mild to moderate, and mostly limited to the first doses. Up to 7.8% stopped because of stomach side effects in the groups that started at a lower dose and stepped up. In a separate phase 1 study of starting doses, vomiting affected 22.5% to 24.4% [2].
Trial results are not a promise
Trial participants got drug made by Amgen under a study doctor's care. If you are in a trial and have severe stomach pain that will not go away, or signs of an allergic reaction such as swelling of the face or throat or trouble breathing, contact the study team or get medical help now. In an emergency, call 911.
How MariTide works
Most weight loss drugs today activate hormone receptors. MariTide does two different things: it activates the GLP-1 receptor, like Wegovy, and it blocks the GIP receptor [3]. Zepbound does the opposite on GIP: its label says tirzepatide activates both the GIP and GLP-1 receptors [12]. Because MariTide is built on an antibody, it lasts longer in the body. Amgen is testing monthly starting doses and maintenance with as few as 4 or 6 doses a year [4].
The phase 3 MARITIME program also includes trials in heart disease, heart failure and sleep apnea, a trial of people switching from weekly tirzepatide or semaglutide to MariTide every 8 weeks or every 3 months, and extensions for weight maintenance [4]. Amgen says three more type 2 diabetes trials will start in 2026 [4].
MariTide vs Wegovy and Zepbound
No head-to-head result against Wegovy or Zepbound has been reported in the sources we checked. The table puts each drug's main trial side by side. The trials differ in phase, length and who enrolled, so this is not a ranking.
| MariTide | Wegovy (semaglutide) | Zepbound (tirzepatide) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| FDA status | Phase 3, not approved [4] | Approved | Approved |
| How often | Monthly or less often [4] | Weekly shot or daily pill | Weekly shot |
| Main trial reported | Phase 2, 52 weeks [2] | STEP 1, 68 weeks [6] | SURMOUNT-1, 72 weeks [7] |
| Average weight change | -12.3% to -16.2% counting everyone; -16.3% to -19.9% if all stayed on it [2] | -14.9% on 2.4 mg vs -2.4% placebo [6] | -20.9% on 15 mg vs -3.1% placebo [7] |
| Self-pay price a month | None | $199 to $399, NovoCare, checked Oct 17, 2026 [8] | $299 to $449, LillyDirect, checked Oct 17, 2026 [9] |
In SURMOUNT-5, the head-to-head trial of the two approved drugs, tirzepatide averaged 20.2% weight loss at 72 weeks vs 13.7% for semaglutide [10]. See Wegovy vs Zepbound, Wegovy cost and Zepbound cost.
How to get MariTide legally
Only in a clinical trial. Search for MARITIME studies that are enrolling on ClinicalTrials.gov. MariTide is not approved, so no doctor can prescribe it and no pharmacy can fill it outside a trial. FDA warns that unapproved GLP-1 products sold online have unknown quality and may be harmful [11]. See research-use-only GLP-1s and online programs for approved GLP-1s.
How we check
Trial numbers come from Amgen's own releases, and phase 3 status from Amgen's SEC filing. We give timing only as Amgen states it. When Amgen reports MARITIME results or files with FDA, this page and the pipeline tracker change.
Questions people ask
When will MariTide be available?
Is MariTide FDA approved?
No. Amgen lists its MARITIME-1 and MARITIME-2 phase 3 weight trials as ongoing as of its second-quarter 2026 report [4].
How much weight do people lose on MariTide?
In Amgen's 52-week phase 2 study, people with obesity without diabetes lost an average of 16.3% to 19.9% if they stayed on treatment, or 12.3% to 16.2% counting everyone who started, vs about 2.5% on placebo [2].
How often is MariTide taken?
In trials, monthly or less often. Amgen describes dosing that can start monthly, with maintenance of as few as 4 or 6 doses a year [4].
Is MariTide better than Zepbound?
What are MariTide's side effects?
Mostly stomach-related and mostly mild to moderate in phase 2; up to 7.8% stopped for stomach side effects in the dose step-up groups, and Amgen reported no new safety signals [2].
Can I get MariTide now?
Only by joining a clinical trial. It is not approved, and FDA warns that unapproved GLP-1 products sold online have unknown quality and may be harmful [11].
Medical review: pending. A licensed clinician has not yet reviewed this page.
Sources
12 cited
- Amgen drops early-stage obesity drug, upping pressure on MariTide. Fierce Biotech, Aug 4, 2026.
- Results from Amgen's phase 2 obesity study of monthly MariTide presented at ADA. Amgen, Jun 23, 2025.
- Inside Amgen's phase 3 MARITIME program. Amgen, Jun 20, 2025.
- Amgen second-quarter 2026 earnings release (Form 8-K). Amgen (SEC filing), Aug 4, 2026.
- Step 4: FDA drug review. US Food and Drug Administration, Jan 4, 2018.
- Once-weekly semaglutide in adults with overweight or obesity (STEP 1). New England Journal of Medicine (PubMed), Feb 10, 2021.
- Tirzepatide once weekly for the treatment of obesity (SURMOUNT-1). New England Journal of Medicine (PubMed), Jun 4, 2022.
- Wegovy self-pay offer. Novo Nordisk (NovoCare Pharmacy), Oct 17, 2026.
- Zepbound on LillyDirect: self-pay prices. Eli Lilly and Company (LillyDirect), Oct 17, 2026.
- Tirzepatide as compared with semaglutide for the treatment of obesity (SURMOUNT-5). New England Journal of Medicine (PubMed), May 11, 2025.
- FDA's concerns with unapproved GLP-1 drugs used for weight loss. US Food and Drug Administration, Oct 1, 2026.
- Zepbound (tirzepatide) prescribing information. DailyMed, National Library of Medicine, Aug 2026.
This page is general information, not medical advice. Talk with a licensed clinician about your own care.