Pfizer Once-Daily Weight Loss Pill Targets Lucrative Obesity Drug Market
Topline
Pfizer on Thursday mentioned it’s transferring ahead with a once-daily weight reduction tablet, danuglipron, after getting promising information from an early-stage trial, a milestone for the pharma large hoping to enter the profitable weight problems drug market and compete with well-liked weight reduction injections Wegovy and Zepbound.
Pfizer mentioned it was transferring ahead with oral weight reduction tablet danuglipron.
Key Details
Pfizer mentioned it had evaluated a number of once-daily formulations of danuglipron and chosen its most popular one to maneuver ahead to mid-stage trials with.
The pharma large mentioned it had seen “encouraging” information from an ongoing early-stage trial and had recognized the candidate with “essentially the most favorable profile.”
Based on an entry on a federal database of scientific trials, Pfizer examined 4 completely different formulations of the once-daily tablet within the early-stage trial of 20 individuals, all of whom have been wholesome adults ages 18 and over.
The New York-based drugmaker mentioned it is going to work out the optimum dose for the tablet through the second half of 2024 and can examine a number of completely different choices.
“We consider a once-daily formulation has the potential to have a aggressive profile within the oral GLP-1 house,” mentioned Pfizer’s chief scientific officer and president for analysis and improvement, Mikael Dolsten.
Pfizer shares have been up almost 2% throughout premarket buying and selling after the announcement.
How Lengthy Till Pfizer’s Weight Loss Tablet Reaches The Market?
Danuglipron remains to be present process early-stage scientific trials and even in the most effective case situation for the drugmaker it is going to nonetheless be a few years earlier than the tablet reaches customers. If the drug succeeds in mid-stage trials, which is way from assured, Pfizer should then undertake late-stage trials, which may be prolonged and for which there are additionally no ensures of success. Ought to it succeed, Pfizer should then safe regulatory approval for the drug, which takes time and isn’t assured. Pfizer has beforehand struggled with a twice-daily model of the drug and discontinued development of the tablet after sufferers struggled tolerating unintended effects throughout mid-stage scientific trials. The tablet’s unintended effects have been largely gentle gastrointestinal complaints like nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, however charges have been excessive and although sufferers efficiently misplaced weight, many stopped taking the tablet on account of them.
Key Background
The burden loss drug market is dominated by Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly, pharmaceutical titans whose diabetes and weight problems injections Ozempic, Wegovy, Zepbound and Mounjaro are in excessive demand (and sometimes restricted provide) around the globe. Each belong to a category of drug often known as Glucagon-like peptide receptor agonists, or GLP-1s, which mimic the motion of a intestine hormone concerned in regulating urge for food and blood sugar. Pfizer’s experimental drug can also be a GLP-1 drug. Given the time it takes to carry a drug to market, the duo are more likely to rule over the profitable sector for the close to future. Different corporations like Pfizer, Amgen, Roche, Viking Therapeutics and Zealand Pharma are racing to catch up and produce their very own weight reduction medication to market, which analysts estimate could possibly be price in extra of $100 billion by the top of decade. Although Lilly and Novo get pleasure from a large first mover benefit with tirzepatide and semaglutide, the generic identify for Mounjaro and Zepbound and Ozempic and Wegovy, the sheer measurement of the market makes it a pretty goal for pharma corporations, particularly if they will trounce the duo’s merchandise. Rivals might supply swifter and extra important weight reduction—Zepbound seems to greatest Wegovy on this respect—assist sufferers retain muscle higher whereas nonetheless shedding fats or supply different well being advantages like treating cardiovascular issues, sleep apnea or kidney illness. As Wegovy and Zepbound are each delivered by way of weekly injections in the meanwhile, growing extra accessible and needle-free strategies of taking the medication is a transparent alternative out there and one which incumbents and hopeful entrants alike are pursuing.
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