Arrowhead Obesity Drugs Show Significant Fat Loss In Early Human Trials

Core Insights - Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:ARWR) reported interim results from Phase 1/2a trials of ARO-INHBE and ARO-ALK7, showing significant reductions in visceral fat, total fat, and liver fat [1][4]. Group 1: ARO-INHBE Therapy - ARO-INHBE aims to alter fat storage and burning by silencing specific genetic pathways, differing from current GLP-1 drugs that primarily reduce appetite [2]. - In combination with Eli Lilly's tirzepatide, ARO-INHBE doubled weight loss and tripled reductions in visceral fat, total fat, and liver fat in obese patients with type 2 diabetes [4]. - A single 400 mg dose of ARO-INHBE achieved a mean maximum reduction of serum Activin E by -85% and a maximum observed reduction of -94% [5]. - Monotherapy with ARO-INHBE at week 16 resulted in a mean visceral fat reduction of -15.6%, adjusted for placebo [5]. - Two doses of ARO-INHBE (400 mg) in combination with tirzepatide led to approximately two-fold weight loss and three-fold fat reduction at week 16 [6]. Group 2: ARO-ALK7 Therapy - ARO-ALK7 is the first RNAi-therapeutic to demonstrate adipocyte gene target silencing in a clinical trial [7]. - ARO-ALK7 achieved a mean reduction of -88% in adipose ALK7 mRNA at the 200 mg dose at week 8, with a maximum reduction of -94% [7]. - A single dose of ARO-ALK7 resulted in a -14.1% reduction in mean visceral fat, adjusted for placebo, observed at week 8 [7]. - ARO-ALK7 has been well-tolerated as monotherapy [8]. Group 3: Overall Results and Market Reaction - The trials indicated a mean visceral fat reduction of -9.9% and a mean liver fat relative reduction of -38%, along with an increase in total lean tissue of 3.6% [9]. - Following the announcement, Arrowhead Pharma shares rose by 17.81% to $75.26, reaching a new 52-week high [10].