Obesity

Now in Phase III with its small molecule orforglipron, Eli Lilly is leading the oral GLP-1 race against Novo Nordisk, Pfizer, Roche and others.
Altimmune on Wednesday said it is ending development of HepTcell, a hepatitis B candidate, following disappointing trial results as it focuses on obesity and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis.
Citing a JAMA study that found Ozempic could be profitably produced at under $5 per month, Senator Bernie Sanders on Wednesday called on Novo Nordisk to lower prices for the diabetes treatment and the weight-loss drug Wegovy.
The early-stage study showed that Viking Therapeutics’ oral obesity candidate VK2735, a dual agonist of the GLP-1 and GIP receptors, elicited a 3.3% reduction in mean body weight. The company plans to start a Phase II trial.
Following its label expansion earlier this month, Medicare on Thursday said it will now cover the use of Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy in patients with overweight or obesity who have preexisting cardiovascular disease.
A new analysis from the Congressional Budget Office predicts that Novo Nordisk’s semaglutide will likely be subjected to Medicare’s Drug Price Negotiation Program under the Inflation Reduction Act.
Novo Nordisk’s investment of more than half a billion dollars is meant to expand its production capabilities in China and help it meet the global drug demand.
Eli Lilly has partnered with Amazon Pharmacy to help fill online orders of its obesity drug Zepbound—as well as migraine and diabetes medicines—placed through the pharma’s online portal LillyDirect.
FDA
Novo Nordisk’s blockbuster weight-loss drug Wegovy was approved on Friday by the FDA to reduce the risk of cardiovascular death, heart attack and stroke in adults who have cardiovascular disease and are obese or overweight.
Novo Nordisk’s early-stage amylin and GLP-1 co-agonist elicited a 13.1% reduction in body weight, with an overall favorable safety profile, the Danish drugmaker reported Thursday at an investor event.
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