Amgen said Thursday that it will no longer develop an early-stage obesity pill, and will instead focus on a more advanced injectable candidate that’s seen as a potential competitor to Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy and Eli Lilly’s Zepbound.
The injectable drug, called MariTide, is in a Phase 2 trial for obesity, and Chief Executive Bob Bradway said on an earnings call that “we are very encouraged with the results” from an interim analysis of that trial. Topline data are expected late this year.
The company is planning a “broad” Phase 3 program that will study MariTide in obesity, diabetes, and obesity-related conditions, Bradway said. It’s already gearing up to make large amounts of the drug, initiating activities “to further expand manufacturing capacity with both clinical and commercial supply in mind,” he said. Amgen shares were up 13% in post-market trading.
