Pfizer Halts Development of 'Two Pills a Day' Obesity Drug Due to "Vomiting and Nausea Side Effects"
U.S. pharmaceutical company Pfizer has decided to discontinue the development of a twice-daily obesity treatment drug.
On the 1st (local time), Pfizer announced the results of the Phase 2 clinical trial of Danuglipron, an oral obesity treatment taken twice daily, revealing a high rate of side effects and treatment discontinuation. Accordingly, the initially planned Phase 3 clinical trial will not proceed.
However, clinical trials for a once-daily formulation of Danuglipron will continue, and clinical data will be released separately in the future.
Pfizer explained that the most common side effects were mild gastrointestinal issues, but the incidence rate of side effects was high.
According to the clinical trial data, the main side effects experienced by patients were nausea (73%), vomiting (47%), and diarrhea (25%). The treatment discontinuation rate was also high at 50%, compared to 40% in the placebo control group.
Albert Bourla, CEO of Pfizer, delivering a speech at the APEC CEO Summit.
Photo by AP Yonhap News
Pfizer's Chief Scientific Officer (CSO), Mikael Dolsten, said, "The improved once-daily Danuglipron prescription is expected to play an important role in the obesity treatment market," adding, "We are currently focusing efforts on gathering data to understand the drug's potential characteristics."
Danuglipron is primarily composed of an analog of GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1), a satiety hormone, which suppresses appetite.
Earlier, in June, Pfizer also discontinued the development of the oral obesity treatment Lotiglipron due to side effects.
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Meanwhile, the current obesity treatment market is led by Danish pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk, which produces Ozempic and Wegovy. Eli Lilly's Tirzepatide, approved as a diabetes treatment under the name Mounjaro, is also expected to soon receive approval as an anti-obesity drug and enter the obesity treatment market.
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