Pfizer Ends Development of Its Obesity Pill

Pfizer is ending the event of its potential once-daily capsule therapy for weight problems after venturing into the largest and most costly stage of medical testing.

The drugmaker stated Tuesday that it could cease finding out danuglipron after a participant in one in every of its trials skilled a potential drug-induced liver damage that ended as soon as the individual stopped taking the drug.

Danuglipron was in part three testing, which is usually the final part of growth earlier than an organization submits the potential therapy to authorities regulators for approval.

An organization official stated in an announcement that Pfizer nonetheless plans to develop different potential weight problems therapies in earlier levels of testing.

Learn Extra: Weight-Loss Drugs Like Wegovy Are Linked to Hair Loss

Obesity treatments have grow to be one of many extra promising and profitable sectors of drug growth for pharmaceutical corporations. Eli Lilly and Co.’s Zepbound, as an illustration, introduced in practically $5 billion in gross sales in 2024, its first full yr in the marketplace.

However main therapies like Zepbound and Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy are injectable. Drugmakers are desperate to develop an easier-to-take capsule model for sufferers who do not need to cope with needles and day by day injections.

Lilly researchers count on to see knowledge this yr from research of a pair potential oral therapies it has developed.

Whereas the medication have grow to be top-sellers, many sufferers have had a tough time getting them both resulting from not too long ago concluded shortages or patchy insurance coverage protection. Each Lilly and Novo have not too long ago introduced worth cuts, however the therapies can nonetheless price a whole bunch of {dollars} a month, placing them out of attain for some individuals with out protection.