What is the story about?
What's Happening?
Eli Lilly has terminated two Phase II trials for its oral obesity drug, naperiglipron, citing strategic business reasons. The trials aimed to test the drug's efficacy in weight loss among patients with type 2 diabetes and older adults with specific BMI ranges. Despite the discontinuation, Lilly continues with a third mid-stage trial, which remains open for enrollment. Naperiglipron, a GLP-1 receptor agonist, faces challenges due to its design similarities with Pfizer's discontinued drugs, danuglipron and lotiglipron.
Why It's Important?
The discontinuation of these trials highlights the challenges in developing effective oral obesity treatments. Naperiglipron's similarity to previously failed drugs raises concerns about its safety and efficacy. However, Lilly's continued investment in the remaining trial indicates potential for diversification in its obesity portfolio. The company's focus on oral weight-loss solutions, including the late-stage orforglipron, underscores its commitment to addressing the obesity epidemic through innovative therapies.
What's Next?
Lilly's ongoing trial for naperiglipron aims to gather more data to inform future steps for the program. The company is also advancing orforglipron, considered a leader in the oral obesity space, despite recent setbacks. The results of these trials will be crucial in determining Lilly's strategy in the competitive obesity drug market.
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