The obesity market is hot with Novo Nordisk A/S generating $6.3 billion in sales from its semaglutide-containing drugs, Ozempic, Saxenda, Rybelsus and Wegovy, in the first quarter of 2024 and Eli Lilly and Co. bringing in $2.3 billion for its tirzepatide-containing drugs, Zepbound and Mounjaro, in the same quarter. It appears unlikely the market will be a two-horse race for much longer though.
The fast-shifting obesity space gained more clinical results as Viking Therapeutics Inc. shared data from its phase I, multiple ascending-dose trial with oral VK-2735, a dual agonist of the glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) receptors.
The enticing prospect – and proven worth – of dually agonizing the glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) receptors gained more evidence in a big way from Viking Therapeutics Inc. with VK-2735 in a phase II weight loss study. Shares of San Diego-based Viking Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ:VKTX) closed Feb. 27 at $85.05, up $46.57, or 121%, as investors learned that the drug achieved the primary and all secondary endpoints in the phase II study called Venture, with significant body-weight drops at all doses compared to placebo.
The same mechanism of action deployed by Eli Lilly and Co.’s obesity drug Mounjaro (tirzepatide) helped lure Roche Holding AG to the buyout of Carmot Therapeutics Inc., as the pharma giant agreed to pay $2.7 billion up front for the privately held outfit, promising another $400 million if milestones are met.
Astrazeneca plc will pay up to $2 billion for Eccogene Co. Ltd.’s oral weight loss candidate, ECC-5004, as big and small pharma players alike work to gain ground in the burgeoning obesity market where Eli Lilly and Co. scored the latest U.S. FDA approval of Zepbound (tirzepatide).
Astrazeneca plc will pay up to $2 billion for Eccogene Co. Ltd.’s oral weight loss candidate, ECC-5004, as big and small pharma players alike work to gain ground in the burgeoning obesity market where Eli Lilly and Co. scored the latest U.S. FDA approval of Zepbound (tirzepatide).
Research led by Duke University and the German Center for Diabetes Research shows the glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) receptor plays an essential role in the action of the type 2 diabetes drug Mounjaro (tirzepatide; Eli Lilly and Co.) in human pancreatic islets.
Eli Lilly and Co.'s tirzepatide, a high-profile entrant in the global anti-obesity race, hit a key milestone, becoming the first investigational medicine to deliver more than 20% weight loss on average for non-diabetics in a phase III study, said Jeff Emmick, vice president of product development at the company.
