The NHS in England is planning a phased rollout of tirzepatide, a promising weight-loss drug, to benefit patients most likely to see significant clinical outcomes. The drug, which has shown impressive results in trials, will be made available through community-based services and digital health platforms, with the goal of reaching 240,000 people over the first three years. The plan is currently under consultation, with final guidance from NICE expected later this year.
Roche Holdings AG, a pharmaceutical giant, has outlined a new strategy to accelerate drug development, focusing on five priority areas: neurology, oncology and hematology, immunology, ophthalmology, and cardiovascular, renal, and metabolism diseases. The company is prioritizing select assets with ‘exceptional potential’ and plans to fast-track clinical trials and expand into new indications. Roche also highlighted its ambitions in the obesity space, expecting its obesity drug candidates to generate over 3 billion Swiss francs in annual sales.
The Body Roundness Index (BRI), a new metric that considers waist circumference and height, is gaining traction as a potential replacement for BMI. BRI is seen as a more accurate measure of abdominal fat, which is strongly linked to health risks like diabetes and heart disease. While further research is needed, BRI holds promise as a valuable tool for assessing health.
Vivani Medical, Inc. (VANI) has received regulatory approval to begin human clinical trials for its innovative miniature, subdermal GLP-1 (exenatide) implant in Australia. This first-in-human trial, dubbed LIBERATE-1, will assess the safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetic profile of the implant in obese and overweight individuals. The trial is expected to commence in the fourth quarter of 2024 and is anticipated to yield data in 2025.
Sanofi has made a strategic investment of $27 million in Ventyx Biosciences, a company developing therapies for neuroinflammatory and neurodegenerative conditions. The investment will support the development of VTX3232, a promising drug candidate for Parkinson’s disease and obesity, with data expected in 2025.
Novo Nordisk’s experimental obesity drug, monlunabant, has demonstrated significant weight loss in a Phase 2a trial, sending shockwaves through the pharmaceutical industry. While the drug showed promising results, investors seem concerned about the limited additional weight loss seen at higher doses. This news has impacted the stock prices of other companies developing similar obesity drugs, including Corbus Pharmaceuticals and Skye Bioscience.
The European Medicines Agency (EMA) has recommended a label update for Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy (semaglutide 2.4 mg), incorporating data showing its potential to reduce heart failure symptoms and improve physical function in obese individuals with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). This update is based on positive results from the STEP HFpEF trials, which demonstrated Wegovy’s efficacy in reducing heart failure symptoms, improving physical limitations, and promoting weight loss compared to placebo.
Hims & Hers Health, a telehealth company, has launched a new initiative offering discounted GLP-1 weight loss medications to essential workers, including military personnel, veterans, teachers, nurses, and first responders. The move comes amid growing concerns about obesity rates and the high cost of popular weight loss drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy.
Epitomee Medical Ltd. has received FDA clearance for its innovative Epitomee® Capsule, a drug-free, ingestible device designed to support weight management in adults with a BMI of 25-40. This groundbreaking technology offers a new option for individuals seeking safe and effective weight loss solutions.
Terns Pharmaceuticals’ stock surged after its experimental obesity drug, TERN-601, demonstrated promising weight loss results in a Phase I study. The drug showed dose-dependent weight reduction and a favorable safety profile, prompting the company to initiate a Phase II trial in 2025.
