Pfizer has decided to halt the development of its potential once-daily pill treatment for obesity due to safety concerns before advancing to later stages of clinical testing.
The decision to discontinue the drug, danuglipron, was prompted by a participant in a trial experiencing a possible drug-induced liver injury that resolved upon discontinuation of the treatment.
The big picture: The once-daily version of the pill was still in early-stage testing to determine the optimal dosing for patients, setting the potential drug back in its development timeline.
- Despite ending the development of danuglipron, Pfizer remains committed to developing other potential obesity treatments that are currently in the earlier stages of testing.
Zoom out: Obesity treatments represent a lucrative sector for pharmaceutical companies, with drugs like Eli Lilly and Co.’s Zepbound generating significant sales in the market.
- Current leading treatments for obesity, such as Zepbound and Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy, are administered through injections, prompting the industry’s interest in developing more patient-friendly pill versions.
- Lilly is anticipating data outcomes this year from studies on oral treatments as they strive to offer more accessible options to patients beyond injectable medications.
Flashback: Pfizer had previously halted the development of a twice-daily version of danuglipron in 2023 due to patient dropout rates in clinical trials, indicating ongoing struggles with the drug’s safety and efficacy profile.
