As competition in the weight loss drug market intensifies, Novo-Nordisk A/S has achieved a key breakthrough. According to trial data released on Saturday by the medical journal The Lancet, participants treated with the highest dose of Novo-Nordisk's new drug amycretin injection lost an average of 24.3%, surpassing the currently most successful weight loss drugs on the market - Eli Lilly and Co's Zepbound (average weight loss of 22.5%) and Novo's Wegovy (average weight loss of 15%).
The new injectable obesity drug amycretin developed by Danish pharmaceutical giant Novo Nordisk has demonstrated weight loss potential that surpasses currently market-leading products in early trials, providing the company with new hope in its fierce competition with Eli Lilly and Co.
According to trial data released by The Lancet medical journal on Saturday, participants receiving the highest dose of the amycretin injection experienced an average weight loss of 24.3%, while the placebo group only lost 1.1%. This result surpasses the most successful weight loss medications currently on the market—Eli Lilly's Zepbound (average weight loss of 22.5%) and Novo's Wegovy (average weight loss of 15%).
As trial results are announced, Novo Nordisk is striving to convince investors that its drug development pipeline can compete with Eli Lilly. The company's stock price has dropped nearly 50% over the past year, with investors concerned that it is losing its lead over Eli Lilly's Zepbound and Mounjaro.
Dual administration method shows weight loss potential.
Amycretin combines the active ingredients semaglutide from Novo's Wegovy and Ozempic with the satiety hormone amylin. In addition to the injectable form, the oral version of the drug has also shown positive results in another early trial.
According to data published by The Lancet, participants in the highest dose group of oral amycretin lost an average of 13.1%, while the placebo group lost 1.2%. Notably, in a 12-week Phase I trial, participants did not experience a plateau in weight loss, suggesting that greater weight loss may be achievable in longer trials or real-life applications.
Martin Lange, Executive Vice President of Novo Nordisk, stated that he believes that if patients take the oral version for a longer duration, it may achieve similar weight loss effects as the injection version. Analyst Evan Seigerman from BMO Capital Markets thinks amycretin looks "promising".
Key breakthroughs in the context of intensified pipeline competition.
This positive result is crucial for Novo Nordisk. The company's previous new obesity drug, CagriSema, had disappointing trial results, leading to a significant drop in stock prices at the end of last year. More detailed data on CagriSema will be presented on Sunday at the American Diabetes Association meeting.
Meanwhile, analysts are optimistic about Eli Lilly and Co's oral obesity drug orforglipron. According to a phase two study published in 2023, the highest dosage achieved an average weight loss of 14.7% over 36 weeks. Recently, results from a phase three trial targeting diabetic patients drove Eli Lilly's stock price up more than 15%.
Novo Nordisk has submitted an application to the U.S. drug regulatory agency for approval of the oral version of Wegovy. The application is based on trial data showing that patients achieved an average weight loss of 16.6% over 64 weeks. The company announced last month that it would seek a new CEO to replace Lars Fruergaard Jørgensen.
