Eli Lilly and Co

Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy (semaglutide) showed promise in treating hidradenitis suppurative (HS) in obese patients, reducing flare-up frequency from once every 8.5 weeks to once every 12 weeks, and improving quality of life. The study, presented at the 2024 EADV Congress, suggests semaglutide’s potential beyond weight loss.

Eli Lilly's EBGLYSS (lebrikizumab-lbkz) showed sustained disease control for up to three years in 80%+ of moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis patients, with 84% on monthly and 83% on bi-weekly regimens maintaining clear or almost clear skin. The treatment received FDA approval earlier this month.

Donanemab, an Alzheimer’s drug by Eli Lilly, faces scrutiny over safety and efficacy, with higher death rates and ARIA side effects in trials. The FDA’s approval, despite initial denial, raises questions about the approval process and potential conflicts of interest among advisory committee members.

Donanemab, an Alzheimer’s drug by Eli Lilly, faces scrutiny over excess deaths, missing safety data, questionable efficacy, and financial conflicts among FDA advisory panel members. Despite these concerns, the FDA approved the drug in July 2023, raising questions about the approval process and the drug's true benefits and risks.

BioAge Labs raised $198 million in an upsized IPO, reflecting investor interest in its obesity treatments. The company focuses on oral apelin receptor agonist azelaprag, currently in phase 2 trials with Eli Lilly's Zepbound, aiming to amplify weight loss and improve body composition. BioAge plans to develop an all-oral obesity therapy and has another trial combining azelaprag with Novo Nordisk's Wegovy in the pipeline.

FDA-approved Alzheimer’s drug donanemab faces scrutiny over effectiveness, safety, and undisclosed financial conflicts among FDA advisers who recommended its approval.

A study suggests Novo Nordisk's Ozempic may reduce opioid overdose risk in patients with Type 2 diabetes and opioid use disorder, offering potential in addressing the U.S. opioid epidemic.

Eli Lilly's Alzheimer's drug Kisunla (donanemab) gains approval in Japan, following US FDA approval in July. Kisunla targets early symptomatic Alzheimer's, showing significant cognitive decline reduction in the TRAILBLAZER-ALZ 2 study. Japan's aging population makes it a key market, with dementia cases expected to reach 5 million by 2030, mostly Alzheimer's. Lilly emphasizes Kisunla's cost-effectiveness due to fixed treatment duration.

A study found that patients with a history of opioid abuse taking Novo Nordisk's Ozempic were less likely to overdose. Those on semaglutide, the active ingredient in Ozempic and Wegovy, had a 63% lower overdose risk compared to those on DPP-4 inhibitors. This adds to evidence suggesting semaglutide may help manage addiction, with the study's lead author, Rong Xu, noting it's the first large-scale study on opioid overdoses. The findings suggest GLP-1 medications could prevent opioid overdoses, prompting calls for more research.

ADjoin study results show 80%+ of moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis patients maintained skin clearance for up to 3 years with Ebglyss (lebrikizumab-lbkz) monthly dosing. Ebglyss, targeting IL-13, was FDA-approved in 2024 for ages 12+ and demonstrated durable efficacy and consistent safety.