Rosalind Evans
Pfizer, a leading pharmaceutical company, made a significant announcement on Friday regarding developing its experimental weight loss pill. Despite the promising weight loss results in obese patients, the company decided to discontinue the twice-daily version of this pill due to tolerability issues in a mid-stage clinical study. This decision marks a crucial point in Pfizer’s journey to capture a share of the burgeoning weight loss drug market.
Pfizer’s decision came after observing that a significant proportion of patients in the trial experienced mild to moderate gastrointestinal side effects, leading to a high discontinuation rate of the medication. This was a significant setback for the drugmaker, which had been aiming to offer a more convenient alternative to the prevalent weight loss injections. “At this time, twice-daily danuglipron formulation will not advance into Phase 3 studies,” announced Pfizer, acknowledging the challenges faced in the drug’s development.
Despite this setback, Pfizer remains hopeful about its weight loss drug pipeline. The company revealed plans to release data on a once-a-day version of the drug in the first half of 2024, which could redefine its strategy in this market segment. This development is crucial for Pfizer as it seeks to diversify its portfolio beyond its Covid products amidst a significant drop in its share price this year.
Pfizer’s phase two trial followed around 600 obese adults, assessing the drug’s impact on weight loss over periods of 26 and 32 weeks. The twice-daily pill showed “statistically significant” reductions in body weight, but the high incidence of adverse events like nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea overshadowed these results. More than 50% of patients stopped taking the pill, a rate higher than those on a placebo.
The competition in the weight loss drug market is intense, with players like Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk leading the race. Pfizer’s discontinuation of its twice-daily pill puts it further behind these dominant players. Analysts had predicted the high discontinuation rates, attributing them to the higher total daily dose of danuglipron compared to competitors’ drugs.
Pfizer’s recent trial results and the subsequent decision to halt the development of its twice-daily weight loss pill underscore the challenges pharmaceutical companies face in balancing efficacy and safety. While this development is a setback for Pfizer, it is also a reminder of its commitment to patient safety and its ongoing efforts to innovate in the competitive weight loss drug market. The future of Pfizer’s once-a-day version of the drug remains a point of interest, as it represents the company’s continued pursuit of a significant share in the rapidly expanding weight loss drug market.
