With the future of GLP-1 agonist based weight loss focused on greater weight loss and easier administration, analysts are betting on not only the Big Pharma but many newbies as well - We take a look at few of these stocks!
- Analysts expect positive Phase II data for AMG-133 (MariTide) in obesity in late '24 -Amgen's MariTide mimics GLP-1?and puts the brakes on GIP.
- It has the potential to be the best-in-class clinical profile - weight loss efficacy of 20-24%? similar to or better than LLY's tirzepatide, good tolerability, only modest dropouts, with convenient monthly dosing coupled with Amgens already established infrastructure
- Trial results also indicate that trial participants maintained a weight loss of 11.2% at 150 days after their last dose unlike other competitor drugs where weight gain has been an issue
- Amgen already has an established manufacturing and supply chain infrastructure and is well equipped to handle manufacturing challenges pertaining to GLP-1 agonists makes it a tough competitor in this space
- Viking Therapeutics after discussions with the FDA will not be conducting any phase 2b studies and would advance its once-per-month injectable GLP-1/GIP dual agonist VK2735 directly to Phase 3 trials in late 2024 - This move has put the new weight loss drug firmly on the fast track
- It is interesting to note that Viking's VK2735 uses the same mode as Zepbound: It mimics both GLP-1 and GIP
- Phase II VENTURE trial achieved its primary endpoint by demonstrating a 13.1% reduction in mean body weight from baseline at 13 weeks, compared to placebo
- In testing, Viking announced that patients averaged a 5.3% weight loss after one month of usage
- Viking is also studying an?oral version of its injectable drug, VK2735with an objective that these pills will have a place in maintaining weight loss after more potent injections
- In the meanwhile, Novo is also testing?multiple weight loss drugs including a weekly shot that uses the same approach as Zepbound and Viking's VK2735
- The company’s oral GLP-1 drug, GSBR-1290, is on track to enter a Phase 2b study in Q4 2024, and as per analysts at Jefferies Research, It might enter a Phase 3 trial in 2026
- Clinical trial results indicate that on an average, patients lost 6.2% of their body weight after three months.
- Pill versions of GLP-1 drugs could help make the treatments cheaper and more broadly accessible and could also serve as maintenance medications once patients achieve their desired weight loss on injectable drugs
- Given that the drug won't be launched until 2031 (as per Guggenheim Securities analyst Seamus Fernandez) Structure is fighting time and cash flow - The company has $900 million in cash, but its cash burn rate could speed up with accelerated late-stage trials, an ongoing concern for shareholders.
- Structure Therapeutics has several pills in development, including drugs that target GLP-1, amylin, GIP, glucagon receptors and apelin. Apelin has been shown to help regulate blood pressure and glucose metabolism, among other things
Longer acting subcutaneous GLP-1 agonists will need dose titrations and careful assesments of the long term adverse effects. Oral pills on the other hand, can serve mostly as maintenance drugs once significant weight loss is achieved via subcutaneous formulations
Interested to know more about the potential gamechangers in the GLP-1 market - DM your email address and any specific questions and we will try to answer those questions in our upcoming report - "??????-?? ???????????????? ?????????????????? ??.?? -?????? ??????????????????????"
