Metabolic Disorders

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.

The Denmark-based major intends to build on its heritage in diabetes and is keen to hear from innovators in a space where prevalence is on the rise but is not being served by improved new products.

Deal Snapshot: Novo is partnering with Ascendis on less frequently dosed drugs for metabolic diseases, committing up to $285m for a lead program, a once-monthly GLP-1 receptor agonist.

Amgen’s product sales grew 24% to $8.15bn in Q3 and its gains are being reinvested in R&D and manufacturing, including for MariTide, which will report Phase II obesity data in late 2024.

Since taking on the CEO role at Theratechnologies in 2020, Paul Lévesque has made it his priority to beef up the company’s commercial portfolio and look for partnerships on potentially high-value programs. Now, the Canadian biotech is turning a profit for the first time in many years.

The Cardiovascular and Renal Drugs Advisory Committee voted 10-6 that efficacy had been shown for the ultra-rare disease, but even panelists in the majority questioned whether the product satisfied the threshold requirement for an adequate and well-controlled study.

Chinese firm Sciwind has revealed additional Phase III findings for its promising once-weekly GLP-1 agonist ecnoglutide, just one asset in a burgeoning Chinese sector that could see the emergence of new rivals to current global leaders in obesity and diabetes.

The Cardiovascular and Renal Drugs Advisory Committee will consider whether open-label extension data from a randomized trial that failed its primary endpoint, along with a historical control comparison, are enough to support approval in the ultra-rare disease.

The US International Trade Commission looks set to ban the importation of Ascletis's THRβ agonist into the US for use in clinical trials due to an initial legal determination on potential infringement of trade secrets related to Viking's same-class candidate VK2809.

NHS England says it is proposing a “realistic but challenging uptake trajectory” that will make “this clinically and cost-effective drug” available to as many patients as possible without overwhelming health care providers.