Health
The Race to Develop Weight-Loss Pills Has Some Drugmakers Falling Behind
- Weight loss seen with pills helps widen manufacturers’ lead
- Pfizer discontinued drug after finding of high liver enzymes
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Obesity shots like Wegovy are already a cultural phenomenon. Now it’s looking like pill forms of the drugs from Eli Lilly & Co. and Novo Nordisk A/S are just as good at helping people lose weight, setting the stage for even more explosive growth in the years ahead.
Novo and Lilly’s experimental obesity pills helped people lose about 15% of body weight, similar to weight-loss shots on the market already, according to findings presented at the American Diabetes Association’s conference over the weekend. Meanwhile, Pfizer Inc. said it will discontinue one of its weight loss pills under development as safety concerns arose.