Fiona Nanna, ForeMedia News

5 minutes read. Updated 11:29PM GMT Tues, 12th November, 2024

In recent weeks, the race to develop effective weight loss treatments has seen major advancements, as pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca and biotech company Viking Therapeutics presented groundbreaking data at the ObesityWeek conference in San Antonio, Texas. The two companies shared promising results for their experimental weight loss pills, fueling optimism that pills might soon rival the highly popular injectable drugs from Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly. With the obesity drug market expected to exceed $100 billion by the end of the decade, these new oral treatments could help bridge the gap in a rapidly growing demand for obesity medications.

A New Era in Obesity Treatment

Both AstraZeneca and Viking Therapeutics are making strides in the ongoing battle against obesity, a condition affecting millions globally. Wall Street analysts predict that the obesity drug market will witness explosive growth as new pills emerge. The appeal of these pills lies in their convenience, offering a more accessible alternative to the injectable treatments that have dominated the market, especially from Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly.

Viking Therapeutics, in particular, has garnered attention for its promising early-stage results. In a study conducted with 92 participants, individuals who took the highest dose of Viking’s daily pill lost an average of 6.8% of their body weight after just 28 days. This surpassed analysts’ expectations, which ranged between 5% and 6% weight loss. The results are notable when compared to the performance of a similar experimental pill by Novo Nordisk, which reported 5% weight loss after four weeks.

The Viking pill also showed a promising side effect profile. According to William Blair analyst Andy Hsieh, the treatment demonstrated a “highly benign tolerability profile.” While mild nausea was reported by some participants, the pill’s tolerability is seen as a significant advantage over existing injectable obesity treatments, which are known to cause gastrointestinal side effects severe enough to discourage continued use.

However, some caution has been expressed about Viking’s ability to scale up production. Analysts, including Deutsche Bank’s James Shin, suggest that the small size of Viking Therapeutics might pose challenges in meeting the manufacturing demands of a competitive market. Despite this, Hsieh maintains that Viking’s attractive characteristics may make it an attractive acquisition target for a larger pharmaceutical company.

AstraZeneca’s Bold Step

Not to be outdone, AstraZeneca also presented exciting data on its experimental obesity pill at the ObesityWeek conference. The pharmaceutical giant reported positive results from a study involving patients with Type 2 diabetes. Participants who took AstraZeneca’s once-daily pill lost 5.8% of their body weight over a four-week period. This pill, which AstraZeneca licensed from Chinese drugmaker Eccogene last year, could offer a more accessible and potentially safer alternative to injectable weight loss medications, which have faced scrutiny over their gastrointestinal side effects.

The study, though small and focused on diabetic patients, was well-received due to the favorable tolerability of the pill, which could differentiate it from competing therapies. AstraZeneca’s executives remain optimistic that their pill’s profile will allow it to capture significant market share, despite some questions about comparing the results to other treatments currently available.

The Future of Weight Loss Drugs

Both Viking Therapeutics and AstraZeneca are positioning themselves as key players in the emerging obesity pill market. With Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly dominating the injectable market, the arrival of effective and tolerable pills could revolutionize obesity treatment, offering patients a more convenient and potentially long-term solution to weight management. Experts agree that as these oral therapies continue to develop, the weight loss drug market will only grow, with expectations for new treatments and technologies to meet an ever-expanding global demand.

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