Alimentary/Metabolic
In the head-to-head Phase III HARMONY trial in metformin-failed type 2 diabetes, HighTide's HTD1801 yielded a mean 1.12% reduction in HbA1c from baseline at 24 weeks, versus 0.93% for AstraZeneca’s Farxiga.
New Phase II data in type 2 diabetes for Novo Nordisk’s GLP-1/amylin agonist amycretin shows significant weight loss and HbA1c-lowering potential. A Phase III trial is planned.
Madrigal, Wave Therapeutics and Kailera are in the next wave of cardiometabolic therapy companies, and at Jefferies talked about how US and China-derived innovation can help reach more patients in the US and the rest of the world.
The company announced positive Phase II results for tradipitant among patients taking Wegovy, enabling them to move more quickly to a therapeutic dose, when patients normally need to titrate.
In this series of articles, we look at different mechanisms of actions beyond GLP-1s that could determine the obesity drug landscape in the coming years.
With Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy joining Madrigal’s Rezdiffra as an FDA-approved MASH treatment, doctors now can choose between direct liver benefits or pursuing weight loss.
The company announced it is pausing development of the GLP-1/GLP-2 dual agonist to prioritize petrelinitide and survodutide in obesity.
Sagimet may shift focus to later-stage MASH while it lines up Phase III financing. Altimmune expects its dual agonist to show efficacy and tolerability, while GSK is readying efimosfermin as the third FGF21 analog into Phase III for MASH.
At AASLD, Madrigal presented Phase III open-label data showing resmetirom can improve liver stiffness and other liver health measures in patients with cirrhosis. It hopes for outcomes data in 2027.
Novo Nordisk’s deal with Emcure for semaglutide will launch Poviztra as a second obesity brand in India, improving access to weight loss treatments following a Lilly-Cipla deal for tirzepatide and seems a clever counter to Indian majors planning to launch generic semaglutide next year
Novo backs out, leaving Pfizer to complete its acquisition of the obesity specialist for nearly $3bn more than its initial offer.
Novo Nordisk’s high-dose semaglutide for obesity and Lilly’s oral obesity candidate orforglipron were given priority review vouchers by the US Food and Drug Administration.
The US pharma giant may have a best-in-class amylin agonist to go with incretin blockbuster Zepbound, but challengers could still go one better on safety and tolerability.
Wegovy and Zepbound will cost around $250 per month under Medicare and Medicaid, and the drugs will cost around $350 per month through TrumpRx.
The drugmaker presented positive data from its Phase II study at ObesityWeek that help validate the amylin class overall, which includes more than a dozen entrants.
Novo has lost its lead in the US obesity market but is banking on increasing US patient access and expanding global markets to sustain growth as it continues its fight for Metsera.
With Sidley attorney Robert Darwin and EY economic analyst Arda Ural, Scrip looked at recent deals, the potential for more deals in the obesity space, and what type of assets might be most in demand.
The big pharma remains committed to buying Metsera, even as the acquisition price has grown and some analysts pressed management on the value of the deal.
Both companies are in need of a major strategic win but Novo has signalled willingness to take a bigger risk on Metsera.
The US pharma company has come out all guns blazing, claiming that Novo Nordisk is looking to block new competitors entering the anti-obesity market.