AstraZeneca (AZN, Financial) recently presented encouraging data regarding its oral weight loss drug during the ObesityWeek conference in the United States. The company's oral small molecule GLP-1 receptor agonist, named "AZD5004/ECC5004," demonstrated an average weight reduction of 5.8% over a four-week period in an early-stage study, showcasing good tolerability among patients.
Sharon Barr, AstraZeneca's Executive Vice President and Head of BioPharmaceuticals R&D, noted that as expected with such small molecule drugs, the incidence of nausea and vomiting increases with higher doses. The development of AZD5004/ECC5004 is part of a $2 billion licensing agreement AstraZeneca made last year to acquire global rights from Eccogene, a Chinese biopharmaceutical firm.
Currently, AZD5004/ECC5004 is in the clinical research phase, targeting obesity, type 2 diabetes, and other cardiovascular metabolic diseases. Two weeks ago, Eccogene received a $60 million milestone payment from AstraZeneca, signifying progress as two global Phase 2b multicenter trials have begun dosing participants. Barr emphasized the urgency in advancing AZD5004 quickly to provide new solutions for these interconnected diseases.
Industry analysts suggest AstraZeneca aims to establish itself in the obesity drug market, which is presently dominated by injectable treatments from competitors Lilly and Novo Nordisk. An oral alternative like AZD5004 offers a more convenient option for patients.
Pascal Soriot, AstraZeneca's CEO, highlighted the company's commitment to delivering more affordable weight loss medications that are easier to administer and may help maintain muscle mass. Additionally, the possibility of combining these drugs with other treatments, such as the kidney failure medication Farxiga, was mentioned.
While data presented at ObesityWeek came from a small early-stage study, Barr indicated that oral GLP-1 can serve as a standalone treatment or be combined with other small molecules. No participants withdrew from the trial, and future studies will involve increasing the drug's dosage. Notably, the drug's weight loss effect appears particularly beneficial for individuals with type 2 diabetes.
Additionally, Viking Therapeutics also showcased trial data, demonstrating that higher doses of its oral drug enhance weight loss effectiveness.
