Novo Nordisk’s experimental obesity drug zenagamtide produced up to 24.3% weight loss over 36 weeks in a 125-person Phase 1b/2a study, compared with up to 1.1% for placebo. It is now in Phase 3 testing, where results may differ.
Zenagamtide mimics GLP-1 and amylin, gut hormones that help regulate blood sugar and appetite, and Novo is also developing it as a pill. The company relies heavily on its GLP-1 portfolio and has lost market share to Eli Lilly, making the candidate significant to its obesity-drug business.
The Motley Fool analysis says annual sales could exceed $1 billion if zenagamtide meets market expectations, which it says may require weight loss in the mid-20% range. It cautions that the initial study was small and says Phase 3 results may become clearer within the next couple of years.
