{"id":620842,"date":"2024-06-24T12:11:00","date_gmt":"2024-06-24T16:11:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/platohealth.ai\/obesity-drugs-from-altimmune-hengrui-show-potential-lilly-details-zepbound-sleep-apnea-data\/"},"modified":"2024-06-24T13:00:42","modified_gmt":"2024-06-24T17:00:42","slug":"obesity-drugs-from-altimmune-hengrui-show-potential-lilly-details-zepbound-sleep-apnea-data","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/platohealth.ai\/obesity-drugs-from-altimmune-hengrui-show-potential-lilly-details-zepbound-sleep-apnea-data\/","title":{"rendered":"Obesity drugs from Altimmune, Hengrui show potential; Lilly details Zepbound sleep apnea data","gt_translate_keys":[{"key":"rendered","format":"text"}]},"content":{"rendered":"
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Today, a brief rundown of news from Altimmune, Jiangsu Hengrui, Eli Lilly and others that you might have missed from over the weekend, when the American Diabetes Association held its annual meeting.<\/em><\/p>\n

After an early setback for Altimmune<\/strong>\u2019s obesity shot pemvidutide<\/a>, the biotechnology company appears to be back on track with additional data. The dual-acting drug, which stimulates the hormones GLP-1 and glucagon, helped participants in the Momentum trial lose an average of 16% of their body weight at the highest dose given, according to full trial results<\/a> presented at ADA. That weight loss at 48 weeks is in line with what Novo Nordisk<\/strong>\u2019s Wegovy produced<\/a> at 68 weeks. The company also pointed to pemvidutide\u2019s preservation of lean body mass<\/a>, which could help differentiate it if approved. Trial investigators described the shot as \u201cwell-tolerated,\u201d although early data cuts had revealed that nearly one-quarter of patients dropped out due to side effects. \u2014 Jonathan Gardner<\/em><\/p>\n

An obesity drug Jiangsu Hengrui Pharmaceuticals<\/strong> recently licensed to a new startup company<\/a> showed weight loss in a Phase 2 trial<\/a> that appears \u201cvery competitive\u201d to other drugs in development, wrote Cantor Fitzgerald analyst Prakhar Agrawal in a Sunday note to clients. Treatment with the \u201cdual agonist\u201d drug, code-named HRS9531, led to weight loss at 24 weeks of up to 17% among participants given the highest dose. The startup now developing it is backed by $400 million raised from investors Bain Capital Life Sciences, RTW Investments, Atlas Venture and Lyra Capital. \u2014 Ned Pagliarulo<\/em><\/p>\n

Back in April, Eli Lilly<\/strong> released summary data on studies of weight loss medicine Zepbound in people with obesity and sleep apnea<\/a>. A fuller presentation of results at the ADA meeting, also published in The New England Journal of Medicine<\/a> Friday, revealed data on \u201csecondary\u201d measures. Among them was a finding that 42% of trial volunteers taking Zepbound alone and half of those taking it while using a breathing machine saw resolution of their condition when measured by sleep apnea events and daytime sleepiness scores. Lilly also said it has submitted the data<\/a> to the Food and Drug Administration. An approval could allow for Medicare coverage of Zepbound for people with obesity and sleep apnea. \u2014 Jonathan Gardner<\/em><\/p>\n

Three people with Type 1 diabetes achieved independence from insulin one year following treatment with a stem cell-derived cell therapy being developed by Vertex Pharmaceuticals<\/strong>, according to data presented at the ADA meeting<\/a> on Friday. Researchers also reported the elimination of severe hypoglycemic events in these three individuals, who all had HbA1C levels below the recommended 7%. Nine other study participants with shorter follow-up also appear to be benefiting from treatment, showing blood sugar control and endogenous insulin secretion. \u2014 Ned Pagliarulo<\/em><\/p>\n

Amylyx Pharmaceuticals<\/strong> is buying an experimental, blood sugar-regulating medicine from Eiger Biopharmaceuticals<\/strong>, which is currently selling assets as part of its Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings. Eiger’s medicine acts on a protein tied to GLP-1 \u2014 the hormone at the center of a revolution in obesity and diabetes care. On Friday, Amylyx agreed to acquire all the rights<\/a> to the drug for $35 million, plus some other, smaller costs. Earlier this year, the company pulled its closely watched treatment for ALS from the market<\/a>, and has been trying to recover. \u2014 Jacob Bell<\/em><\/p>\n