Eli Lilly to start late-stage trials on amylin obesity drug after it shows up to 20% weight loss in study

Core Insights - Eli Lilly is set to begin late-stage trials for its experimental amylin obesity drug, eloralintide, next month following positive mid-stage study results [1][2] Group 1: Drug Efficacy - The highest dose of eloralintide resulted in an average weight loss of 20.1% over 48 weeks for patients with obesity or who are overweight [2] - The lowest dose led to a 9.5% weight loss at 48 weeks, compared to 0.4% for the placebo group [6] - A two-step dose escalation starting at 6 mg resulted in a 19.9% weight loss, while a three-step escalation starting at 3 mg led to a 16.4% weight loss [6] Group 2: Competitive Landscape - Eli Lilly's advancements position it as a strong competitor in the amylin treatment space, which is seen as the next wave of obesity treatments [3] - Major pharmaceutical companies like Roche, AbbVie, and Novo Nordisk are investing heavily in amylin treatments, indicating a competitive market [4] - Novo Nordisk and Pfizer are engaged in a takeover battle for Metsera, which has a potential once-monthly amylin drug in its pipeline [4] Group 3: Mechanism and Side Effects - Amylin analogs mimic a hormone that suppresses appetite and reduces food intake, potentially offering advantages over existing GLP-1 treatments [5] - Common side effects of eloralintide include mild to moderate gastrointestinal symptoms and fatigue, particularly at higher doses [7] - Patients who gradually increased their doses experienced fewer side effects [7][8]