FRANKFURT, May 10 (Reuters) – Zeeland Pharma (ZELA.CO) and partner Boehringer Ingelheim say experimental obesity drug achieves up to 14.9% weight loss after 46 weeks in mid-stage trial added a potential competitor to the rapidly growing obesity pharmaceutical market.
In a statement Wednesday, the partners said the Phase II dose-finding trial had achieved its primary endpoint of weight loss, the Danish company added.
A spokeswoman for the privately held Boehringer said the partners are in discussions with regulators about potential follow-up studies to third- and final-stage trials, which typically require approval.
Vast demand for weight loss treatments such as Novo Nordisk’s (NOVOb.CO)’s Wegovy and Eli Lilly’s (LLY.N)’s Mounjaro will support 10 competing products with annual sales of up to $100 billion within 10 years There is likely to be. Industry executives and analysts say most are in the United States.
Zeeland (ZELA.CO) stocks were little changed at 0750 GMT after jumping 3.3% since open.
The drug, currently under the name BI 456906, is injected weekly under the skin, similar to Mounjaro and Wegovy, as is Novo’s low-dose diabetes drug Ozempic, which contains the same active ingredient as Wegovy. .
Like other drugs, BI 456906 works by reducing the effects of an intestinal hormone called glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), which is involved in regulating appetite and food intake.
However, BI 456906 also blocks another gut hormone called glucagon. Munjaro also has a dual mechanism of action, blocking yet another gut hormone in addition to GLP-1.
According to the clinical trials database clinicaltrials.gov, Zeeland/Boehringer participants trial They were randomly divided into five groups, four receiving different doses of experimental weekly shots, and a fifth receiving a placebo.
Reporting by Ludwig Burger, Editing by Louise Heavens
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