Pharmaceutical giant Merck & Co is developing a new weight loss medication.
Hey there! Let's chat about a juicy piece of news in the healthcare world. The almighty Merck & Co has just bagged exclusive rights to a potential game-changer in the battle against obesity – HS-10535, a new oral obesity drug, thanks to an agreement with the Chinese biotech powerhouse, Hansoh Pharmaceuticals.
HS-10535 is part of the GLP-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1Ra) family, similar to Wegovy from Novo Nordisk, but it's a pill instead of an injection. However, it's still in the early stages of development, with market approval years away. Dean Li, President of Merck Research Labs, revealed that they aim to explore the drug's potential benefits beyond weight loss, focusing on cardiometabolic improvements too.
The timing for Merck's entry could be a bit tricky, though. They'll be facing heavy competition from industry giants like Eli Lilly, Amgen, Pfizer, Structure Therapeutics, and Viking, all of whom are working on convenient, oral alternatives to established weight loss injections. Analysts are skeptical about Merck's odds, pointing out that some competitors, like Lilly's Orforglipron, are already further along in development.
On the brighter side, Merck isn't putting all their eggs in one basket. They're also developing their own GLP-1 medication, Efinopegdutide, for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. And remember, they're joining a longer line of Western companies betting on Chinese biotech innovations – AstraZeneca, for instance, acquired the rights to a weight loss pill from Chinese biotech firm Eccogene not so long ago.
Here's the lowdown on the competitive landscape: Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk dominate the scene with their GLP-1Ra products. Pfizer and Amgen are gunning for them, but their oral candidates face approval hurdles due to liver injury concerns. Viking Therapeutics and Structure Therapeutics are making waves with differentiated mechanisms like dual or triple agonists.
To reach the patent goldmine of $125 billion by 2033, oral GLP-1Ra candidates must reduce body weight by 15-20% like their injectable counterparts, and they have to offer once-daily dosing with fewer GI side effects. Game on!
As always, remember this info is for entertainment purposes only – don't take it as financial advice or medical truth. Always do your own research before making important decisions. Happy reading! 😉🙌🚀
- Merck & Co has secured exclusive rights to HS-10535, a potential oral obesity drug, from Hansoh Pharmaceuticals, which falls under the GLP-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1Ra) family, similar to Wegovy from Novo Nordisk.
- Despite being in the early stages of development, HS-10535's potential benefits could extend beyond weight loss, focusing on cardiometabolic improvements, as revealed by Dean Li, President of Merck Research Labs.
- The health-and-wellness industry, particularly weight-management supplements, may see a significant shift with the potential approval of HS-10535, given the likely competition from industry giants like Merck, Eli Lilly, Amgen, Pfizer, Structure Therapeutics, and Viking.
- Nutrition enthusiasts and consumers might find enthusiasm in Merck's efforts to reduce body weight by 15-20% like injectable counterparts, offering once-daily dosing with fewer GI side effects, as they aim to reach the patent goldmine of $125 billion by 2033.
- The unpredictable landscape of the pharmaceuticals industry continues to evolve, with Western companies like Merck making strategic investments in Chinese biotech innovations, such as Hansoh Pharmaceuticals, to stay competitive in the health-and-wellness sector.
