Understanding Obesity

Obesity is a complex biological disease that increases the risk of many other serious diseases and conditions, including Type 2 diabetes, heart failure, kidney disease, sleep apnea, atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis.1,2 In 2022, 890 million adults (18 years and older) globally were living with obesity, and 2.5 billion adults were living with overweight.3

Obesity is linked to a marked reduction in quality of life and an array of serious medical complications and conditions.3 Despite the breadth of the disease, the formal recognition of obesity as a chronic disease by the American Medical Association (2013) and the European Health Commission (2021), and medical guidelines recommending pharmacologic treatment in appropriate individuals, only 1%-3% of eligible adults in the U.S. are prescribed medication for chronic weight management.4-6 Addressing the needs of this community is a challenge that we take seriously and view as critical for public health.

In addition to our lead asset maridebart cafraglutide, also known as MariTide (formerly AMG 133), Amgen is also advancing an obesity pipeline, which includes both oral and injectable approaches, composed of both incretin and non-incretin mechanisms. Given the heterogeneity of obesity and the number of people impacted, a variety of approaches will be needed to meet the dynamic needs of people living with overweight, obesity and related conditions, underscoring our commitment to innovation and patient care.

42.5%
In the U.S., more than two in five adults are living with obesity7
2x
The worldwide prevalence of obesity more than doubled between 1990 and 20223
~ 1 billion
The number of people worldwide living with obesity3

Science Rooted in Biology

Mechanism of Action for Our Lead Asset

Mechanism of Action for our Lead Asset, MariTide (AMG 133)
Targeting Obesity Using Biology to Enhance Behavior

The People Behind the Science

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LEADERSHIP 06.05.2025

Meet the Woman Leading the Obesity and Related Conditions Team at Amgen
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PEOPLE & CULTURE 09.05.2024

From Rural France to Cutting-Edge Science: Murielle Véniant-Ellison’s Journey to Obesity Research
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Patient-Guided Clinical Development

Inside Amgen’s Phase 3 MARITIME Program: Advancing the Future of Obesity Care
Overview of the Clinical Development Process​

Overview of the Clinical Development Process​
What is Real-World Evidence?

How Real-World Evidence Informs our Obesity Approach

References

  1. GBD 2015 Obesity Collaborators; Afshin A, et al. Health Effects of Overweight and Obesity in 195 Countries over 25 Years. N Engl J Med. 2017;377(1):13-27.
  2. Health Risks of Overweight & Obesity. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.  https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/weight-management/adult-overweight-obesity/health-risks. Published May 2023. Accessed June 23, 2025.
  3. World Health Organization: WHO. Obesity and overweight. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/obesity-and-overweight. Published March 7, 2025. Accessed June 23, 2025.
  4. Samaranayake NR, Ong KL, Leung RY, Cheung BM. Management of obesity in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), 2007–2008. Ann Epidemiol. 2012;22(5):349–53.
  5. Xia Y, Kelton CM, Guo JJ, Bian B, Heaton PC. Treatment of obesity: Pharmacotherapy trends in the United States from 1999 to 2010. Obesity (Silver Spring). 2015;23(8):1721–8.
  6. Saxon DR, et al. Antiobesity Medication Use in 2.2 Million Adults Across Eight Large Health Care Organizations: 2009-2015. Obesity. 2019;27:1975-1981.
  7. Fryar CD, Carroll MD, Afful J. Prevalence of overweight, obesity, and severe obesity among adults aged 20 and over: United States, 1960–1962 through 2017–2018. NCHS Health E-Stats, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 2020. www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/hestat/obesity-adult-17-18/obesity-adult.htm. Updated February 8, 2021. Accessed June 23, 2025.