Prognosis

Big Pharma's Leaner Look Spells Trouble for Obesity Research

  • Sanofi, Novartis cut weight-loss treatments in pullback
  • Drugs face a high bar in bid to rival weight-loss surgery
A Novo Nordisk scientist works in Denmark, where the drugmaker is researching new ways to tackle obesity.Photographer: Carsten Snejbjerg/Bloomberg
Lock
This article is for subscribers only.

The pharma world’s newfound zeal for slimmer pipelines has brought an end to once-promising obesity medicines.

Both Sanofi and Novartis have halted work on experimental weight-loss treatments, leaving rival Novo Nordisk A/S with little competition in the field.