Pfizer Halts Development of Twice-Daily Weight Loss Pill Due to Side Effects
In a recent announcement, pharmaceutical giant Pfizer revealed that it will no longer pursue the development of its twice-daily version of an experimental weight loss pill. The decision was made following a mid-stage clinical study involving obese patients, who experienced weight loss but struggled to tolerate the drug due to its high rates of adverse side effects, primarily gastrointestinal issues.
The twice-daily formulation, known as danuglipron, will not progress to Phase 3 studies, as stated by the company. Nevertheless, Pfizer plans to release phase two trial data on a once-a-day version of the drug in the first half of 2024, which will determine the next steps for its development.
The news of Pfizer discontinuing the development of the twice-daily pill led to a 4% decline in the company’s shares during premarket trading. Pfizer had originally aimed to capture a significant portion of the booming weight loss drug market, estimated to reach $90 billion by CEO Albert Bourla.
This setback follows Pfizer’s decision to scrap a different once-daily weight loss pill in June, raising doubts among investors about the company’s potential in the weight loss drug sector. Currently, Pfizer trails behind leading players in the market, such as Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk, who are racing to develop more convenient pill versions of their successful weight loss and diabetes treatments.
Pfizer’s phase two trial for the twice-daily pill involved approximately 600 obese adults without Type 2 diabetes. The study examined the drug’s effects on weight loss over 26 or 32 weeks at various dosages. Results revealed that all dose sizes of Pfizer’s pill showed statistically significant reductions in body weight compared to a placebo, ranging from 4.8% to 13%.
However, adverse events were observed among patients, with the most common side effects being nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Surprisingly, over 50% of patients across all doses stopped taking the pill, compared to around 40% in the placebo group.
It is important to note that the drug, danuglipron, did not exhibit any new safety issues and was not linked to increased liver enzymes like a different weight loss pill previously discontinued by Pfizer.
The phase two trial data will either be presented at a future scientific conference or published in a peer-reviewed journal. In the meantime, Pfizer continues to explore alternative options to enter the highly competitive weight loss drug market.
“Prone to fits of apathy. Devoted music geek. Troublemaker. Typical analyst. Alcohol practitioner. Food junkie. Passionate tv fan. Web expert.”