Pfizer plans clinical trials for a once-a-day weight-loss pill after discontinuing the twice-daily version
Pfizer plans to start clinical trials for a new, once-a-day version of its weight-loss pill danuglipron later this year, according to The Globe and Mail.
The company had previously discontinued a twice-daily version of the drug due to high dropout rates in midstage trials caused by side effects like nausea and vomiting.
This new formulation is part of the second generation of weight-loss pills under development by companies such as Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk, which aim to provide a more convenient alternative to injections.
Analysts predict the weight-loss drug market, currently led by Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy and Eli Lilly’s Zepbound, could exceed $150bn in annual sales by the early 2030s.
Pfizer did not specify an exact timeline for the drug's development but plans to test multiple doses of the new version in the second half of this year before moving to clinical trials.
The company's earlier decision to discontinue the twice-daily danuglipron came after it also dropped another daily weight-loss drug, lotiglipron, due to safety concerns over elevated liver enzymes in some patients.
JP Morgan analyst Chris Schott pointed out that Eli Lilly’s experimental weight-loss pill has a significant time-to-market advantage over Pfizer’s new formulation.
He expressed concerns about the side effects, stating there is “a limited role for the asset absent more clarity on the tolerability profile of the new formulation.”
Despite these challenges, Pfizer's shares rose 2.8 percent to $29.14 in premarket trading, after closing at $28.35 on Wednesday.
The shares have lost more than half their value since peaking at $61 in December 2021, due to a sharp decline in sales of its COVID-19 products and investor worries about its pipeline, including lotiglipron.
Pfizer announced that early study results support once-daily dosing for the new danuglipron, with no observed liver enzyme elevations in over 1,400 healthy adult volunteers.
GLP-1s, initially developed for type 2 diabetes, mimic the action of the GLP-1 hormone to regulate blood sugar, slow digestion, and suppress appetite. Other companies, such as Amgen and Viking Therapeutics, are also developing next-generation weight-loss drugs.
With the sharp decline in sales of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine and pill, CEO Albert Bourla faces pressure to drive growth through new drug developments. Additionally, Pfizer announced that chief scientific officer Mikael Dolsten will step down after more than 15 years with the company.
