Metabolic Disorders

2030 sales forecasts for Novo’s obesity hope are an order of magnitude larger than its closest rival among 2025’s expected debutantes.  

GLP-1 receptor agonists could play a big role in tackling neurodegeneration and a new academic study has raised expectations of Novo Nordisk’s latest semaglutide Phase III results

Chinese firm Sciwind has revealed additional Phase III findings for its promising once-weekly GLP-1 agonist ecnoglutide, just one asset in a burgeoning Chinese sector that could see the emergence of new rivals to current global leaders in obesity and diabetes.

Christopher Anzalone is spearheading Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals' transformation from a development-focused to a commercial-stage biotech. The CEO touts an “almost plug and play” platform, a derisked development strategy and a busy pipeline with vast potential.

In this week's podcast edition of Five Must-Know Things: CMS’s price reveal better than expected?; new diabetes risk data for Zepbound; can J&J’s lung cancer combo stand up to Tagrisso?; new recruits for BioMarin leadership; and Glenmark’s shifting revenues.

Principal deputy commissioner Bumpus agrees with advisory committee findings that safety issues with ITCA 650 preclude approval, regardless of comparisons to other diabetes treatments. Final order caps a nearly eight-year regulatory saga that has grown increasingly rancorous.

Database review contradicts earlier findings with Novo Nordisk’s blockbuster incretin, but its small size and flawed design mean its commercial implications will be limited.    

An extension of the pivotal study backing Zepbound (tirzepatide)’s approval for obesity demonstrated 94% risk reduction for type 2 diabetes as well as sustained weight loss over three years.

Novo disappointed on high expectations with its second-quarter announcement resulting in stock price weakness. But after Lilly reported without disappointment, something unexpected happened.

Revenues from Rx and OTC pharmaceuticals are returning to the normal annual growth patterns seen during the past decade – the COVID-affected years excepted. In a 3-part series, In Vivo analyzes the market dynamics that support this trend, giving forecasts for individual therapy areas for 2025. This article focuses on the top three therapy areas by growth.

In this week's podcast edition of Five Must-Know Things: Merck & Co. steps into CD19 bispecific space; gene therapy patients rise, but slowly; Madrigal’s Rezdiffra plans; Korean biopharma financing recovering?; and approvals to watch out for in Q3.

But competing with the likes of Wegovy and Zepbound will be a big ask.

Biocon maintains it doesn’t expect the US to remain an eight to 10 player market for adalimumab biosimilars for long and also outlines expectations for its GLP-1 portfolio, led by liraglutide, seen as a major growth driver in the coming years.

In this week's podcast edition of Five Must-Know Things: Amgen positions for obesity and diabetes; BMS returns TIGIT asset in pipeline reshuffle; is Kerendia the next jewel in Bayer’s crown?; Japan pharma firms cut jobs; and Sun Pharma seeks GLP-1 partner.

Nine new entries targeting a wide range of unmet medical needs. Several EU marketing approvals and two withdrawals. And an accelerated assessment tool that was seldom used. These were among the activities noted as part of the European Medicines Agency’s priority medicines scheme during the first half of 2024.

Lilly now expects to bring in between $45.4bn and $46.6bn in total revenue this year, thanks mainly to continued growth for Mounjaro and Zepbound.

However, Lilly already has outcomes data for tirzepatide, meaning Novo could lose the race to market with a heart failure claim even after being first to the US FDA.

Sales of Wegovy and Ozempic were strong again in the second quarter and while they were shy of analyst expectations, the Copenhagen-based giant is confident of continuing demand despite competition from Eli Lilly’s Zepbound.

Determining the efficacy of arimoclomol alone in Niemann-Pick disease type C was challenging because most study subjects also received miglustat, an off-label drug in the US. An FDA official said panelists should assess arimoclomol’s efficacy as it was studied in the pivotal trial.

In this week's podcast edition of Five Must-Know Things: Pfizer bullish on its oral glp-1; BMS’s rising confidence about Medicare pricing of Eliquis; more long term data for Leqembi; NewAmsterdam’s CETP inhibitor shows promise; and a look at Mankind’s Bharat Serums buy.