Eli Lilly and Co

Athira Pharma's lead candidate, fosgonimeton, failed Phase II/III LIFT-AD trial for Alzheimer's, causing a 81% stock drop. Despite missing primary and secondary endpoints, Athira remains committed to fosgonimeton's development, citing potential benefits in specific subgroups. Full data will be presented at the CTAD Conference in Madrid.

The oral thin films market is projected to reach $7.65 billion by 2028 with a CAGR of 13.6%, driven by specialty pharmaceuticals, precision medicine, and telemedicine. Key players include ZIM Laboratories, NAL Pharma, and Cure Pharmaceutical. The market is segmented by type, disease indication, and distribution channel.

Kynurenine, a tryptophan metabolite, exacerbates Alzheimer’s disease (AD) by inhibiting astrocyte glycolysis and lactate production, starving neurons. IDO1 inhibitors, which block kynurenine production, could potentially treat AD and other neurodegenerative diseases.

ArtLifting, founded by Liz and Spencer Powers, brokers art by disadvantaged artists, earning them $6.5 million. Their works, including by Allen Chamberland and Lisa Murphy, are displayed in corporate offices, including Moderna and Foundation Medicine, aiming to break stigmas and provide income.

Wall Street is bullish on Viking Therapeutics (VKTX) due to successful clinical trials of its weight loss drug VK2735, which showed significant weight loss in patients. Billionaires Jeff Yass and Israel Englander have increased their stakes in the company. VK2735, a dual GLP-1 and GIP receptor agonist, outperformed competitors like Novo Nordisk's semaglutide and Eli Lilly's tirzepatide. Viking Therapeutics also has a promising drug, VK2809, for metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH). Upcoming catalysts include phase 3 trials for VK2735 and a phase 2 study of oral VK2735. Despite potential risks, Viking Therapeutics is considered a high-risk, high-reward investment.

Eli Lilly's QWINT clinical trials show efsitora alfa, a once-weekly insulin, non-inferior in A1C reduction compared to daily basal insulins in type 2 diabetes patients. QWINT-1 and QWINT-3 trials met primary endpoints of non-inferior A1C reduction, with efsitora reducing A1C by 1.31% vs. 1.27% for insulin glargine and 0.86% vs. 0.75% for insulin degludec. Lilly plans to present detailed results at a conference and publish in a peer-reviewed journal.

Eli Lilly and Pfizer launch direct-to-consumer strategies to combat unauthorized copycats and leverage brand recognition, respectively. Telehealth and prescription delivery services aim to create a loyal customer base, with high net promoter scores indicating successful online health platforms. The shift is driven by data insights and potential for greater medication adherence, though the impact on traditional prescription systems remains uncertain.

Innovent Biologics' earnings report shows revenue up 46% to 3.95 billion yuan, but net loss surges 182% to 393 million yuan. The delay in sales approval for anti-obesity drug mazdutide and the sudden retirement of R&D chief Liu Yongjun dampen investor enthusiasm. Innovent's focus shifts to cardiovascular and metabolic drugs, with mazdutide and teprotumumab in the pipeline.

OrsoBio raises $67M to advance weight loss drugs; Vor Bio's CRISPR-edited stem cells show success in AML therapy; Boehringer Ingelheim to test eye drug for geographic atrophy; Novartis licenses capsid from Voyager for gene therapy; Vaxcyte raises $1.3B on positive pneumococcal vaccine data.