Pfizer Inc. is pulling back the curtain on its obesity ambitions, releasing new data on an experimental weight-loss shot and outlining a strategy to claw its way into a leadership position in the competitive market dominated by first-movers.
New Data on Berobenatide
At the American Diabetes Association meeting in New Orleans, Pfizer showcased results for berobenatide, a long-acting GLP-1 acquired from Metsera Inc. for $10 billion last year. Patients receiving the highest weekly dose lost 15.9% of their body weight after eight months, with no plateau observed. A separate study indicated strong blood sugar improvements in diabetic patients and low treatment discontinuation rates.
Potential for Monthly Dosing
Pfizer highlighted the drug's potential as the first once-a-month treatment in its class. In overweight or obese patients without diabetes, the highest dose every four weeks resulted in nearly 15% weight loss after 14 months. Less frequent dosing could provide an edge over weekly rivals Zepbound and Wegovy.
In February, Pfizer had disappointed investors with a previous analysis showing 12.3% weight loss after 28 weeks with monthly dosing. The company is now accelerating late-stage trials, including studies for sleep apnea and knee osteoarthritis, and plans large trials in China and Japan.
Strategic Shift
After early failures, Pfizer's new approach is supercharged by the Metsera acquisition. Chief Scientific Officer Chris Boshoff stated, "We are entering a new era of internal medicine innovation." The company envisions a pipeline targeting obesity and related conditions for decades to come.
Market Opportunity
Obesity has become the pharmaceutical industry's biggest commercial opportunity in decades, transforming Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk. Pfizer bets its scale, commercial know-how, and history with blockbusters like Viagra and Lipitor will help it catch up. While COVID vaccines provided a temporary boost, dwindling demand has left Pfizer scrambling. Executives believe obesity will offer a steady revenue stream for years.
