Pfizer scraps daily weight loss pill after liver injury in one patient

Core Viewpoint - Pfizer has decided to halt the development of its experimental daily weight loss pill, danuglipron, after a patient experienced a liver injury potentially linked to the drug during a trial [1][3]. Group 1: Drug Development and Safety - The patient involved did not show any liver-related symptoms, and their liver enzymes recovered quickly after discontinuation of the drug [2]. - The decision to stop development was based on a comprehensive review of clinical data and recent regulatory feedback [3]. - Pfizer's chief scientific officer expressed disappointment but reaffirmed the company's commitment to advancing other promising programs in the weight loss sector [4]. Group 2: Market Context and Competition - The announcement adds to Pfizer's challenges in the competitive GLP-1 market, which is expected to exceed $150 billion by the early 2030s, with oral GLP-1s potentially accounting for $50 billion [5][6]. - Pfizer is significantly behind competitors like Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk, who dominate the market with established products [5]. - The company previously discontinued a twice-daily version of danuglipron due to patient tolerance issues [6]. Group 3: Future Prospects - Despite the setback with danuglipron, Pfizer is pursuing other experimental obesity drugs, including an oral drug targeting GIPR and another once-daily oral GLP-1 in early-stage trials [9]. - Pfizer believes that the GIPR-targeting drug could offer better efficacy and tolerability for patients [10]. - The only FDA-approved oral GLP-1 to date is Novo Nordisk's Rybelsus, which generated approximately $3.38 billion in sales in 2024 [11].