Healthy Returns: Chinese obesity drug emerges as a potential rival to Eli Lilly’s Zepbound

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Another potential competitor to blockbuster obesity treatments from Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk just showed positive data – but this time, it’s from China. 

An experimental weekly injection developed by Chinese drugmaker Hengrui Pharma and its U.S.-based partner, Kailera Therapeutics, succeeded in a late-stage trial in China, putting the drugmakers on track to seek approval there. 

Kailera is among several companies, such as Merck, Novo Nordisk and Regeneron, that have tapped the Chinese market in search of a drug that could win a slice of the booming weight loss drug market. In May 2024, Kailera licensed rights outside of the Greater China region to multiple experimental drugs from Hengrui in return for more than $100 million in upfront and near-term payments, a 20% equity stake and nearly $6 billion in future milestones.

Here’s how the drug, dubbed HRS9531, performed in the trial: It helped patients lose nearly 18% of their body weight on average after 48 weeks, which is more than 16% greater weight loss than those on a placebo saw.

Almost 9 in 10 people who received the injection lost at least 5% of their body weight, and 44.4% of patients achieved at least 20% weight loss, according to a release from the companies. There was no plateau in weight loss at 48 weeks. 

The companies didn’t disclose specific safety data or how well patients tolerated the drug, only saying those results were consistent with previous data on the treatment and other GLP-1s. Most adverse events from the injection were gastrointestinal-related and mild to moderate in severity, the companies said. 

Hengrui will file an approval application for the drug in China. Meanwhile, Kailera will start global studies that use higher doses and keep patients on the treatment for longer, the startup’s CEO Ron Renaud said in the release.

It will likely still take several years before HRS9531 enters the market, particularly in the U.S. and other nations outside of China. But the drug’s results appear to be promising, and position it as a potential competitor to Eli Lilly’s weekly weight loss injection Zepbound.  

Both drugs work by activating two naturally produced hormones in the body: glucagon-like peptide-1, known as GLP-1, and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide, or GIP. The combination is said to slow the emptying of the stomach, making people feel full for longer and suppressing appetite by slowing hunger signals in the brain.

Across two phase three trials enrolling roughly 3,000 adults with obesity or Type 2 diabetes, Zepbound helped patients lose an average of up to 21% of their body weight over 72 weeks.

It’s difficult to directly compare results from different clinical trials, especially since the latest results on HRS9531 were only from more than 500 patients. But the drug still achieved significant weight loss over 48 weeks, raising hopes about its potential over a longer period of time. 

Meanwhile, Novo Nordisk’s weekly injection Wegovy only targets GLP-1. 

Feel free to send any tips, suggestions, story ideas and data to Annika at [email protected].

Well folks, after a long saga, Anne Wojcicki has officially regained control of the embattled genetic testing company 23andMe. 

Wojcicki co-founded 23andMe and served as CEO until the company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in March. Her new nonprofit, TTAM Research Institute, has completed its acquisition of the Personal Genome Service and Research Services business lines of 23andMe, the company announced on Monday.

“As part of TTAM, 23andMe is continuing to operate and provide customers with personalized DNA testing and research services,” the company said in a release. “TTAM is committed to providing customers with choice and transparency with their data, including the option to change their decision on whether to participate in research.”

TTAM is an acronym for the first letters of 23andMe, according to The Wall Street Journal.

23andMe rocketed into the mainstream with at-home DNA testing kits that gave customers insight into their family histories and genetic profiles. But the five-time CNBC Disruptor 50 company struggled to generate recurring revenue and stand up viable research and therapeutics businesses after going public.

When it became clear that 23andMe’s financials were shaky, Wojcicki submitted several proposals to take the company private while she was still its chief executive. Those plans were unsuccessful, and she ultimately had to compete against other prospective buyers in a bankruptcy auction.

And, of course, there were some unexpected twists.

In May, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals announced it would purchase most of 23andMe’s assets for $256 million after it came out on top during the bankruptcy auction. But Wojcicki submitted a separate $305 million bid through TTAM and pushed to reopen the auction.  

A month later, she did just that, and TTAM announced that it had successfully outbid Regeneron. 

“I am thrilled that TTAM Research Institute will be able to continue the mission of 23andMe to help people access, understand and benefit from the human genome,” Wojcicki said in a June statement.

Feel free to send any tips, suggestions, story ideas and data to Ashley at [email protected].