Rise and shine, everyone, another busy day is on the way. We can tell because the pace of motor vehicles passing by our window is picking up and the official mascots are busy foraging for their breakfast on the campus grounds. As for us, we are engaged in the usual ritual of brewing cups of stimulation. Our choice today is maple bourbon. Yes, this is real. As always, you are invited to join us. The neurons could use all the help they can get. Meanwhile, here is the latest menu of tidbits for you to digest as you embark on your journey, which we hope is satisfying and rewarding. On that note, time to get cracking. Best of luck, and do keep in touch. …
Eli Lilly’s obesity drug Zepbound significantly cut the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, showing the benefits of long-term use of the blockbuster therapy, STAT says. In a Phase 3 trial that lasted over three years, people with pre-diabetes taking Zepbound had a 93% lower risk of progressing to diabetes compared with people on placebo. The results add to the body of data showing continued use of the class of GLP-1 drugs can help prevent other health problems. Novo Nordisk’s competing drug Wegovy reduced the risk of heart complications in a large cardiovascular outcomes trial and cut the risk of developing diabetes by 73%. The data could boost arguments that the high costs of chronic use of the drugs are justified if these prevent people with obesity from developing other health problems, thereby saving the health system money in the long run.
Next week, the biopharma world will see eagerly awaited results from a trial that could shape care for patients with an increasingly common heart condition — and determine which companies stand to reap billions, STAT tells us. The trial of vutrisiran, from Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, was already announced as positive, with the drug successfully cutting the risk of death and cardiovascular complications in patients with the disease, called ATTR-CM. Given the strong data, the therapy is expected to win regulatory approval. But Alnylam’s drug is not the only option for patients. Pfizer has a pair of competing therapies, and BridgeBio has one nearing approval. Investors and cardiologists have been anticipating the full results of the Alnylam trial, which are scheduled to be presented next Friday, Aug. 30, in London at the annual meeting of the European Society of Cardiology.
