Pfizer Scraps Daily Weight Loss Pill
Pfizer said it would end development of its experimental daily weight loss pill after a patient experienced a liver injury that was potentially caused by the drug in a trial.
The patient’s liver enzymes "recovered rapidly" after they stopped taking the pill, which is an oral GLP-1 drug called danuglipron.
Details of the Incident
Some key points about the incident include:
- Pfizer said it would end development of its experimental daily weight loss pill after a patient experienced a liver injury that was potentially caused by the drug in a trial.
- The patient’s liver enzymes "recovered rapidly" after they stopped taking the pill, which is an oral GLP-1 drug called danuglipron.
- The patient had elevated liver enzymes, which often indicate damage to cells in the liver, but did not experience any liver-related symptoms or side effects, a Pfizer spokesperson told CNBC.
- The announcement adds to a string of setbacks in the company’s bid to win a slice of the booming market for GLP-1s, which mimic gut hormones to tamp down appetite and regulate blood sugar.
Background of the Drug
The patient did not experience any liver-related symptoms or side effects, a Pfizer spokesperson said in a statement. They added that the patient’s liver enzymes "recovered rapidly" after they stopped taking the pill, which is an oral GLP-1 drug called danuglipron. The statement suggests that the patient’s liver enzymes were elevated, which often indicates damage to cells in the organ and is an issue that has been linked to some other obesity drugs.
Impact on Pfizer
The case occurred in a trial that quickly increased the dose of the pill over a short period of time, the spokesperson said. Pfizer’s decision to halt development of the drug came after "a review of the totality of information, including all clinical data generated to date for danuglipron and recent input from regulators," according to a release.
Future Plans
"While we are disappointed to discontinue the development of danuglipron, we remain committed to evaluating and advancing promising programs in an effort to bring innovative new medicines to patients," Dr. Chris Boshoff, Pfizer’s chief scientific officer, said in the release. He added that the company is still developing other weight loss drugs.
Market Implications
The announcement adds to a string of setbacks in the company’s bid to win a slice of the booming market for GLP-1s, which mimic certain gut hormones to tamp down appetite and regulate blood sugar. Pfizer is among several drugmakers racing to bring a more convenient weight loss medicine to a space dominated by weekly injections, but it is years behind competitors such as Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk.
Previous Setbacks
This is not Pfizer’s first setback with danuglipron, specifically, either. The company discontinued a twice-daily version of the pill in December 2023 after patients had trouble tolerating the drug in a mid-stage study.
Other Developments
Despite its decision to scrap the drug, Pfizer on Monday said those studies met key goals and confirmed a certain form and dose of the pill with the potential to deliver "competitive efficacy and tolerability" in late-stage trials.
Conclusion
Pfizer’s decision to end development of its experimental daily weight loss pill is a significant setback for the company, but it remains committed to developing other weight loss drugs. The company’s pipeline of cancer drugs is also expected to deliver long-term growth.
FAQs
- What is the name of the experimental daily weight loss pill that Pfizer scrapped?
Pfizer scrapped its experimental daily weight loss pill called danuglipron. - What was the reason for Pfizer’s decision to end development of the drug?
The reason for Pfizer’s decision to end development of the drug was a patient’s liver injury that was potentially caused by the drug in a trial. - What is the market potential for GLP-1s?
Some Wall Street analysts expect the GLP-1 industry to be worth more than $150 billion by the early 2030s. - What other weight loss drugs is Pfizer developing?
Pfizer is developing other weight loss drugs, including an oral drug that blocks another gut hormone called GIPR, which entered phase two trials last year, and an additional once-daily oral GLP-1 in phase one trials.
