Bimagrumab

Eli Lilly to Launch Mounjaro in Major Emerging Markets by 2025 as Global Demand Soars

2 months ago

• Eli Lilly plans to introduce its blockbuster diabetes and weight-loss drug Mounjaro in China, India, Brazil, and Mexico by the second half of 2025, targeting a potential market of 900 million patients. • The pharmaceutical giant has committed over $23 billion since 2020 to expand manufacturing capacity worldwide, with production facilities in Ireland, Italy, and Spain supporting the global rollout. • Mounjaro (tirzepatide) is currently marketed under different brand names depending on indication and region, including Zepbound for obesity in the US, while maintaining consistent branding in Europe and the UK.

AbbVie Enters Obesity Market with $350M Gubra Deal for Novel Amylin Analog

3 months ago

• AbbVie makes its strategic entry into the obesity therapeutics market through a $350 million upfront licensing agreement with Danish biotech Gubra for their amylin analog GUB014295. • The deal includes potential milestone payments up to $1.875 billion plus tiered royalties, positioning GUB014295 as a promising obesity treatment that targets appetite suppression through amylin receptor activation. • Phase 1 clinical trials for GUB014295 are underway, with completed single ascending dose studies showing promising initial data in addressing the growing global obesity crisis affecting nearly 900 million adults.

Abcuro Secures $200M Series C Funding to Advance Novel IBM Treatment Ulviprubart

3 months ago

• Abcuro has raised $200 million in Series C financing led by NEA to advance ulviprubart, a first-in-class monoclonal antibody treatment for inclusion body myositis (IBM). • The funding will support completion of the Phase 2/3 MUSCLE trial for ulviprubart, preparation for BLA filing, and commercial launch activities, with initial data expected in early 2026. • Ulviprubart targets KLRG1 to selectively deplete cytotoxic T cells and has received orphan drug designation from both FDA and EMA for treating IBM, which affects over 50,000 patients across US and Europe.

Viking Therapeutics Initiates Phase 2 Trial of Oral VK2735 for Obesity

4 months ago

• Viking Therapeutics has commenced a Phase 2 clinical trial for oral VK2735, a dual GLP-1/GIP agonist, to treat obesity. • The VENTURE-Oral Dosing Trial will evaluate the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, and weight loss efficacy over 13 weeks in approximately 280 adults. • Prior Phase 1 data showed promising weight reductions up to 8.2% and encouraging tolerability with the oral tablet formulation of VK2735. • Viking plans to initiate Phase 3 development for the subcutaneous formulation of VK2735 in the first half of 2025, following positive Phase 2 results.

Eli Lilly's Zepbound Demonstrates Superior Weight Loss Compared to Novo Nordisk's Wegovy in Head-to-Head Trial

6 months ago

• Eli Lilly's Zepbound (tirzepatide) led to a 20.2% average weight loss, significantly outperforming Wegovy (semaglutide) at 13.7% in a 72-week clinical trial. • The SURMOUNT-5 trial included overweight or obese adults without diabetes, showing Zepbound users experienced 47% more relative weight loss than Wegovy users. • Zepbound, a dual GIP and GLP-1 receptor agonist, helped 31.6% of participants achieve at least 25% body weight loss, compared to 16.1% with Wegovy. • The study's findings may influence treatment choices, with Zepbound potentially becoming a preferred option for greater weight loss outcomes, pending further data on tolerability.

Weight Loss Drug Race Heats Up: Zepbound Outperforms Wegovy, New Therapies Target Muscle Growth

6 months ago

• Eli Lilly's Zepbound demonstrated superior weight loss compared to Novo Nordisk's Wegovy in a head-to-head trial, with Zepbound users losing over 20% of body weight versus Wegovy's under 14%. • Several companies, including Eli Lilly, Regeneron, and Veru, are developing new weight loss drugs that aim to preserve or promote muscle growth, addressing concerns about muscle loss with existing GLP-1 therapies. • The obesity treatment market is experiencing rapid growth and innovation, with over 300 GLP-1R drugs in development and analysts projecting sales to potentially reach $150 billion annually by the early 2030s. • Upcoming trial readouts in 2025 from companies like Metsera, Skye Bioscience, and Eli Lilly may introduce novel mechanisms and improved convenience, further intensifying competition in the obesity market.

Breakthroughs and Trends in Anti-Obesity Drug Development for 2024

a year ago

The anti-obesity drug landscape is evolving with the introduction of breakthrough treatments like Semaglutide and Tirzepatide, alongside the development of innovative monotherapies, combination therapies, and emerging injectable pharmacotherapies. The focus is also shifting towards oral drug formulations and addressing sarcopenia in obesity treatment. Preclinical research and clinical trials continue to play a crucial role in advancing obesity therapeutics.

Obesity Drug Market Surges: Major Pharma Companies Race to Develop Novel Treatments

a year ago

• Novo Nordisk's Wegovy and Eli Lilly's Mounjaro have demonstrated remarkable commercial success, with Wegovy sales reaching 9.6 billion DKK in Q3 2023, driving significant share price increases for both companies. • The global obesity treatment market is projected to reach $60 billion within ten years, prompting pharmaceutical companies to accelerate R&D efforts and pursue strategic acquisitions in this space. • Major players including Roche, AstraZeneca, and Pfizer are developing oral formulations and novel mechanisms of action, with recent industry acquisitions totaling over $7 billion in potential deal value.

Drug Development Updates