YouTube video by Jack Cocchiarella

An experimental weight loss drug tested in mice targets five receptor systems and may reduce side effects, according to a study published in Nature.

Roche’s Genentech has agreed a deal worth up to $2.3 billion to develop and sell Hanmi Pharmaceutical’s experimental obesity drug HM17321.

YouTube video by B.C. Begley

YouTube video by B.C. Begley

Eli Lilly’s obesity drug Zepbound loses CVS coverage, raising concerns over sales momentum as competition with Novo Nordisk’s...

Eli Lilly shared new safety and tolerability data on its next-gen obesity drug, retatrutide, at the ...

Investing.com -- Viking Therapeutics (NASDAQ:VKTX) stock fell 21% Tuesday morning despite announcing positive Phase 2 trial results for its oral obesity drug that showed significant weight loss in patients. The clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company reported that its Phase 2 VENTURE-Oral Dosing trial of VK2735, a dual GLP-1 and GIP receptor agonist, met its primary and secondary endpoints. Patients receiving the once-daily oral tablet formulation demonstrated weight loss of up to 12.2% (26.6 lbs) after 13 weeks of treatment, compared to 1.3% (2.9 lbs) for those on placebo. The study showed a clear dose response across the treatment period, with weight loss being progressive at all doses through the 13-week study with no plateau observed. Up to 97% of subjects in the VK2735 treatment groups achieved at least 5% weight loss, compared with 10% for placebo, and up to 80% achieved at least 10% weight loss versus 5% for placebo. The company also reported that the drug was generally safe and well-tolerated, with 98% of drug-related treatment-emergent adverse events categorized as mild or moderate. The most common side effects were gastrointestinal, with nausea reported in 58% of participants receiving VK2735 compared to 48% for placebo. An exploratory dosing cohort designed to assess weight loss maintenance showed promising results. Patients rapidly titrated to 90 mg daily doses for four weeks and then down-titrated to 30 mg daily for seven weeks maintained their weight loss, suggesting that effective weight maintenance may be achieved at lower doses. Despite these positive results, investors appeared to react negatively to the news, sending Viking Therapeutics shares sharply lower in Tuesday trading. This article was generated with the support of AI and reviewed by an editor. For more information see our T&C. Don't miss out on the next big opportunity! Stay ahead of the curve with ProPicks – 6 model portfolios fueled by AI stock picks with a stellar performance this year.. In 2024 alone, ProPicks' AI identified 2 stocks that surged over 150%, 4 additional stocks that leaped over 30%, and 3 more that climbed over 25%. That's an impressive track record. With portfolios tailored for Dow stocks, S&P stocks, Tech Stocks, and Mid Cap stocks, you can explore various wealth-building strategies. So if VKTX is on your watchlist, it could be very wise to know whether or not it made the ProPicks lists.

LONDON (Reuters) -Wegovy-maker Novo Nordisk (NYSE:NVO) said on Friday its CEO Lars Fruergaard Jorgensen will step down over concerns the company is losing its first-mover advantage in the highly competitive obesity drug market. Here is reaction to the news: LUKAS LEU, PORTFOLIO MANAGER AT BELLEVUE ASSET MANAGEMENT, WHICH OWNS NOVO SHARES: "Seems like he’s been made redundant. He was leading the company for eight years and in my opinion that was extremely successful...Stock has been weak since mid-2024. That is unexpected and not too good." JP MORGAN: "Overall, while the announcement of the CEO transition is unexpected, we believe this reflects decisive action from the Novo Nordisk Foundation to put Novo in the strongest position to capitalise on the GLP-1 (obesity/diabetes) market opportunity over the next 10 years. JYSKE BANK ANALYST, HENRIK HALLENGREEN LAUSTSEN: "Our first thoughts are that these are uncertainties that the Novo share does not need in the current situation. On the face of it, a negative price reaction makes sense, despite the recent challenges for Novo...They don’t need more uncertainty, they need a firm grip on the wheel. "The Novo Nordisk Foundation is increasing its influence and has appointed its chairman, Lars Rebien Sørensen, as an observer on the Novo Nordisk Board of Directors for election in 2026. The changes are without any changes to the company’s strategy, according to Chairman Helge Lund." GOLDMAN SACHS Obviously not great at first look, some early feedback pointing to the company acknowledging performance has not been acceptable and change was needed but will also call into question the inflection in scripts if and when that comes.

COPENHAGEN (Reuters) - Wegovy-maker Novo Nordisk (NYSE:NVO) said on Friday its CEO Lars Fruergaard Jorgensen will step down over concerns the company is losing its first-mover advantage in the highly competitive obesity drug market. Under Jorgensen’s leadership, Novo Nordisk became a world leader in the weight-loss drug market, with sky-rocketing sales of its Wegovy and Ozempic treatments which propelled its share price to become Europe’s most valuable listed company. However, its shares have plunged since hitting a record-high in June last year as competition, particularly from U.S. rival Eli Lilly (NYSE:LLY), makes inroads into its market share and as its pipeline of new drugs has failed to impress investors. "The changes are made in light of the recent market challenges Novo Nordisk has been facing, and the development of the company’s share price since mid-2024," Novo said in a statement. Eli Lilly’s U.S. prescriptions for its Zepbound obesity shot have surpassed Wegovy since mid-March in its biggest market. Jorgensen, 58, who has been CEO since 2017, will remain in the role until a new CEO has been appointed, the company said. Former CEO of Novo Nordisk for 16 years and current chair of the Novo Nordisk Foundation, Lars Rebien Sorensen, will join the board as an observer with immediate effect with the aim of taking a seat at the next annual general meeting, Novo said. Novo Nordisk is controlled by the Novo Nordisk Foundation through its investment arm which owns 77% of the voting shares. "Considering the recent market challenges, the share price decline, and the wish from the Novo Nordisk Foundation, the Novo Nordisk Board and Lars Fruergaard Jorgensen have jointly concluded that initiating a CEO succession is in the best interest of the company and its shareholders," Novo Nordisk said. The shares are down 32% year-to-date and 59% from the all-time high in June last year.

COPENHAGEN (Reuters) -Obesity drugmaker Novo Nordisk (NYSE:NVO) on Wednesday cut its full-year sales and profit outlook amid lacklustre U.S. prescription data and posted first-quarter operating profit above analyst forecasts. "In the first quarter of 2025, we delivered 18% sales growth and continued to expand the reach of our innovative GLP-1 treatments," CEO Lars Fruergaard Jorgensen said in a statement. "However, we have reduced our full-year outlook due to lower than-planned branded GLP-1 penetration, which is impacted by the rapid expansion of compounding in the U.S.," he said. The Danish company cut its guidance and now expects 2025 sales growth in local currencies of between 13% and 21%, compared to the 16%-24% range given at the beginning of the year. Novo reported first-quarter earnings before interest and taxation (EBIT) of 38.79 billion Danish crowns ($5.90 billion), compared with the 37.20 billion forecast in a company-compiled consensus based on 26 analysts and up 22% from a year ago. NVO: A Bull or Bear Market Play? Don't miss out on the next big opportunity! Stay ahead of the curve with ProPicks AI – 6 model portfolios fueled by AI stock picks with a stellar performance this year... In 2024 alone, ProPicks AI identified 2 stocks that surged over 150%, 4 additional stocks that leaped over 30%, and 3 more that climbed over 25%. That's an impressive track record. With portfolios tailored for Dow stocks, S&P stocks, Tech Stocks, and Mid Cap stocks, you can explore various wealth-building strategies. So if NVO is on your watchlist, it could be very wise to know whether or not it made the ProPicks AI lists.

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BrightGene has reported positive topline Phase 1 results for its oral obesity treatment BGM0504, showing safety and preliminary efficacy in both China and the U.S.

Animal studies have shown that a naturally occurring molecule resembles semaglutide — also known as Ozempic — in suppressing appetite and reducing body weight, but without some of the drug’s side effects, such as nausea, constipation, and significant