A U.K. study has uncovered distinctive genetic drivers of type 2 diabetes in South Asians that lead to faster development of complications, the need for earlier insulin replacement therapy and a weaker response to some widely prescribed drugs. That points to the need to refine care pathways. But in addition, the research provides a potent illustration of how the under-representation in genomics databases of people who are not of white European origin can skew results and be a source of discrimination.

Wall Street began comparing and contrasting what’s available after Amgen Inc. rolled out phase II data with weight loss candidate Maritide – a disclosure that led shares of the biotech heavyweight (NASDAQ:AMGN) to close Nov. 26 at $280.01, down $13.99.

Apollo Therapeutics Group Ltd. and Sunshine Lake Pharma Co. Ltd. inked a potential $938 million licensing deal for APL-18881 (HEC-88473), Sunshine’s dual fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21)/glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist currently in a phase II study for type 2 diabetes.

Apollo Therapeutics Group Ltd. and Sunshine Lake Pharma Co. Ltd. inked a potential $938 million licensing deal for APL-18881 (HEC-88473), Sunshine’s dual fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21)/glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist currently in a phase II study for type 2 diabetes.

Adipopharma SAS has secured funding to begin phase I trials of PATAS, a compound with a novel mechanism for treating type 2 diabetes.

Nearly $3.8 billion was earned by Novo Nordisk A/S and Eli Lilly and Co. in the third quarter for their glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) drugs to treat obesity. Novo’s GLP-1 drug, Wegovy (semaglutide), approved by the U.S. FDA in June 2021, had sales of DKK17.3 billion (US$2.5 billion), while Lilly’s Zepbound (tirzepatide), which is a GLP-1 and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide dual agonist FDA-approved in November 2023, posted sales of $1.26 billion for the quarter.

Previous studies have shown that NETosis, a specialized form of neutrophil-specific cell death, is involved in the pathogenesis of diabetes.

In one of the top series A financings in biopharma history, new company Kailera Therapeutics Inc. emerged with $400 million raised and a pipeline of next-generation assets to treat obesity and type 2 diabetes.

The U.S. FDA has lifted the full clinical hold it imposed in June on Biomea Fusion Inc.’ s phase I/II studies of BMF-219 in types 1 and 2 diabetes. A safety review of the phase IIb expansion study was encouraging and none of the elevated lab values confirmed serious liver injury or impairment, said Biomea’s CEO, Thomas Butler.