The news: A closely watched GLP-1 experimental pill from Viking Therapeutics achieved lower-than-anticipated weight loss results in study data released Tuesday.
Digging into the data: Patients lost up to 12.2% of their body weight after 13 weeks in Viking’s mid-stage trial. Around 28% of trial patients on the medicine stopped taking the pills compared to 18% of placebo patients.
- Wall Street expected closer to 15% body mass loss, and Viking’s stock dropped 40% after the news.
- In the Viking trial, 20% of the patients who discontinued the drug quit because of adverse gastrointestinal effects.
Zooming out: Viking aims to compete with Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly, which have already finished clinical trials for oral GLP-1s weight loss drugs.
Why it matters: Pills for weight loss haven't worked as well as shots. For example, injectables tend to produce 20% to 25% weight loss results. This is because it's hard to make pills that survive the digestive system, while shots go directly into the body.
Our take: While weight loss pills won't be as powerful as shots, they still offer a good solution. Losing 10% to 12% of weight is a significant health result. Plus, pills are much more convenient than injectables. They're easier to store and take, and don't require a needle. Drug companies should focus on promoting these benefits to market the pills as a good weight loss option.
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