According to Smart Finance APP, Amgen (AMGN.US) announced on Tuesday that its experimental weight loss therapy, MariTide, achieved significant results in phase 2 trials, averaging weight loss of about 17% to 20% among obese or overweight individuals (regardless of whether they have type 2 diabetes) with no plateau effect observed, which is not less than the weight loss efficacy of 15% to 20% from Eli Lilly (LLY.US)'s Zepbound and Novo-Nordisk A/S (NVO.US)'s GLP-1 products. However, the company's stock price fell by about 12%, while competitors Eli Lilly and Novo-Nordisk saw their stock prices rise. Amgen announced it would continue with the phase 3 research plan MARITIME for MariTide, despite the drug being associated with gastrointestinal adverse events like nausea, it still offers patients a potential unique treatment option. Other developers of experimental weight loss therapies are also actively researching.

In the phase 2 trial targeting individuals with obesity or being overweight but without type 2 diabetes, Amgen's MariTide achieved an average weight loss of about 20% over a period of more than a year. For patients with type 2 diabetes, the average weight loss reached about 17% within the same 52-week timeframe. Amgen noted that neither group experienced a plateau effect after 52 weeks, indicating there is still potential for further weight loss.

Based on this data, Amgen announced a phase 3 research plan named MARITIME for MariTide. MariTide is a bispecific molecule designed to target gut hormone receptors (GLP-1) and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide receptors.

Regarding safety, Amgen stated that its MariTide injection, administered once a month or less frequently, is not associated with changes in bone mineral density, which has recently been a concern for Cantor Fitzgerald and led to a sell-off of its stocks earlier this month.

However, Amgen also added that MariTide is associated with gastrointestinal adverse events such as nausea. Despite this, Amgen's chief scientific officer, Jay Bradner, stated, "These results give us confidence to initiate MARITIME, a phase 3 study targeting obesity and a range of related diseases, providing patients with a unique potential new treatment option."

Other companies developing experimental weight loss therapies include Pfizer (PFE.US), AstraZeneca (AZN.US), Viking Therapeutics (VKTX.US), Altimmune (ALT.US), Sorrento Therapeutics (GPCR.US), Zealand Pharma, and rhythm pharmaceuticals (RYTM.US).

It is worth mentioning that, according to reports, the government led by President Biden is proposing a regulation that will require the payment for weight loss medications, which could expand access to weight loss medications for millions of obese Americans and bring a huge new medical bill to President Donald Trump if elected.

It is understood that the USA Medicare program now covers the costs of medications like Novo-Nordisk's Ozempic and Eli Lilly and Co's Mounjaro for individuals with health conditions such as diabetes. According to the White House, this new regulation will enable approximately 3.4 million Medicare participants and 4 million adults in the low-income Medicaid program to access weight loss treatments.

According to a White House official, the proposal will reduce the out-of-pocket costs for medications priced at $1,000 monthly by up to 95%. Medicare provides insurance for about 52 million elderly Americans and currently does not cover expenses for obesity-related medications such as Wegovy and Zepbound. Only 13 states' Medicaid programs cover these major weight loss drugs.

This move represents a significant victory for pharmaceutical companies Novo-Nordisk A/S and Eli Lilly and Co, which have just overcome a situation in which drug shortages limited access to brand-name medications over the past two years. According to relevant analysts, the thriving injectable weight loss drug market is expected to reach $130 billion by 2030, with both companies competing to persuade insurance companies to cover these drugs.