Eli Lilly and Co

New weight-loss drugs by Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly, among others, could potentially end the obesity pandemic, according to the World Health Organization, as reported by Reuters in a JAMA opinion piece.

Sanofi and Teva announced positive phase IIb RELIEVE UCCD study results for duvakitug, an anti-TL1A therapy for Ulcerative Colitis and Crohn's disease, meeting primary endpoints. Plans for a late-stage study and detailed results presentation are underway. Shares of both companies surged post-announcement.

2024 saw breakthroughs in gene therapies for sickle cell disease, at-home flu vaccines, mind-controlled prosthetics, non-opioid pain medicine, AI medical scribes, fruit fly brain mapping, clinical-grade hearing aids, new schizophrenia drugs, brain-computer interfaces, HIV prevention meds, cervical cancer screening alternatives, maternal health apps, AI protein structure prediction, VR for mental health, screen time reduction tools, gene therapy for deafness, women's health research, self-serve vision tests, blood tests for colorectal cancer, and potential lupus cures.

Durvalumab improved progression-free survival (PFS) over placebo in patients with locally advanced, unresectable non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) after platinum-based chemoradiotherapy (CRT), with a 25% reduction in risk of disease progression or death. Subgroup analysis showed consistent PFS benefit regardless of CRT type, and a trend toward improved overall survival (OS) was observed. PACIFIC-5 supports consolidation immunotherapy after either concurrent or sequential CRT.

Biogen navigates Alzheimer's treatment Leqembi launch and pipeline shifts. Key growth drivers include Leqembi and Skyclarys for Friedreich's ataxia. Strategic moves like acquiring HI-Bio and financial stability with strong cash flow and gross margin support Biogen's prospects. Competitive landscape and regulatory challenges in Europe pose risks. Analysts' mixed outlook ranges from $175 to $294, emphasizing Leqembi's success and pipeline developments.

Gan & Lee Pharmaceuticals announces FDA clearance for GZR18 Injection, a bi-weekly GLP-1 receptor agonist for chronic weight management, to conduct a phase 2 clinical trial against Tirzepatide. GZR18 aims to offer flexible treatment options for obese patients, with clinical data showing weight loss effects comparable to or better than existing formulations.

Eli Lilly partners with Ro to integrate LillyDirect, offering Zepbound single-dose vials at a discount, while Ro also sells compounded semaglutide. The partnership reflects Big Pharma adapting to DTC trends and battling compounded GLP-1s. The FDA is reviewing GLP-1 shortage rules, with compounded versions currently allowed. Ro maintains independent clinical decision-making, selling both branded and compounded products based on availability. Lilly and Pfizer face Senate scrutiny over DTC platform legality, with obesity drugs being a focus due to high demand and scalability.

Gan & Lee Pharmaceuticals announces FDA clearance for GZR18 Injection, a bi-weekly GLP-1 receptor agonist for chronic weight management, to conduct a phase 2 trial against Eli Lilly's Tirzepatide. GZR18 aims to offer flexible treatment options for obese patients, with clinical data showing weight loss effects comparable to or better than existing GLP-1 formulations.

Eli Lilly and EVA Pharma received approval from the Egyptian Drug Authority for their human insulin glargine injection to treat type 1 and type 2 diabetes. The partnership aims to provide affordable insulin to over one million diabetic individuals in low to middle-income countries annually, primarily in Africa. Lilly supplies the active pharmaceutical ingredient at low cost and provides technology transfer to EVA Pharma, enabling local manufacturing. The collaboration also seeks World Health Organization pre-qualification for the insulin injection.

Schrödinger, a computational chemistry company, resists AI hype in drug discovery, emphasizing physics-based methods. CEO Ramy Farid highlights AI's limitations, using it selectively with curated datasets. Schrödinger's approach focuses on molecular interactions, differentiating it from AI-only methods. The company has a successful track record, including cofounded firms and an internal drug pipeline.