AstraZeneca says experimental obesity pill safe in early-stage trial
Reuters
AstraZeneca reported on Monday that its experimental weight-loss pill, AZD5004, licensed from China's Eccogene for up to $2 billion, was found safe and tolerable in an early-stage trial.
The study, which included 72 participants who were either healthy or had type 2 diabetes, showed side effects consistent with other GLP-1 drugs, such as nausea and vomiting. Based on these findings, AstraZeneca has advanced AZD5004 to Phase II trials focused on weight reduction in overweight and obese individuals, with completion expected by late 2025.
Unlike injectable treatments from competitors Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk, AZD5004 is a small molecule pill that can be combined with other medications and taken with or without food, offering potential advantages for patients with additional health conditions.
AstraZeneca also shared early-stage data on other obesity drugs, AZD6234 and AZD9550, which target different hunger-related hormones and will undergo further Phase II testing through 2026.
Meanwhile, Viking Therapeutics released early trial results for its own oral obesity drug, which briefly boosted its stock before a decline.
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