Metabolic

The end of semaglutide and tirzepatide shortages means large-scale compounding is declining, ICER noted. But compounded versions – and the demand for them – are likely here to stay.

ICER’s new white paper pointed to estimates that the GLP-1 drugs may result in more than $100bn in annual spending, highlighting the need to rein in costs.

Novo is making Wegovy available through a new direct-to-patient delivery option for individuals paying out of pocket for the obesity drug as the potential end of semaglutide compounding nears.

AbbVie is the latest big pharma to buy into the obesity space, licensing an amylin analog from Gubra for $350m up front, while Novo will pursue cardiometabolic targets with Gensaic’s AI-based platform.

Repatha was not an overnight success, but the work Amgen has done to turn its PCSK9 inhibitor into a blockbuster is informing its strategy for Lp(a)-reducing olpasiran and obesity drug MariTide.

Manu Chakravarthy, Roche’s head of the resurrected cardiometabolic division, lays out his four-pillared strategy to place the company in direct competition with Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk.

Despite the stellar success of the class so far, biotech is now looking past GLP-1s to more tolerable, sustainable approaches to obesity.

The proposal states that Part D plans could define "obesity" for coverage determination, but CMS said overly restrictive criteria would be inconsistent with formulary review requirements and step-therapy would not be allowed.

Much anticipated Phase II results in obesity for Amgen’s GLP-1 agonist/GIP antagonist showed up to 20% weight loss, but without detailed data the drug’s competitiveness is hard to ascertain.

After emerging with $290m in April and announcing Phase I data for its lead asset in September, Metsera raised another $215m to fund clinical trials for three obesity drug candidates.