Healthy Returns: Pfizer's new obesity bet, Metsera, releases encouraging data on lead drug

Core Insights - Pfizer is acquiring weight loss drugmaker Metsera in a deal valued at up to $7.3 billion, which is expected to close by the end of the year [2] - Metsera's lead obesity drug candidate, MET-097i, is progressing to phase three studies following promising mid-stage trial results [2][4] Company Overview - Metsera, founded in 2022, has developed a pipeline of oral and injectable obesity treatments through licensing and acquisition [3] - The focus is on MET-097i, an injection designed for once-a-month administration, potentially offering a competitive advantage over existing weekly injections [4] Clinical Trial Results - In the VESPER-1 trial, the highest dose of MET-097i resulted in an average weight loss of 14.1% after 28 weekly doses, with some participants losing up to 26.5% [6] - An extension study of VESPER-1 indicated continued weight loss without plateauing at 36 weeks [7] - Comparatively, other drugs like Wegovy and Zepbound have shown weight loss results of around 15% and above 20%, respectively [8] Drug Tolerability - Patients tolerated MET-097i well, with a low discontinuation rate of 2.9% due to side effects, which is favorable compared to other obesity drugs [10][13] - At a starting dose of 0.4 milligrams, tolerability was comparable to a placebo, and gradual dose increases showed minimal side effects [11][12] Market Potential - Analysts estimate that Metsera's obesity drug candidates could generate over $5 billion in combined peak annual sales [14]