Biotech
Thursday, March 28th, 2024 2:22 am EDT
Key Points
- Altimmune’s experimental drug demonstrated efficacy in weight loss while minimizing loss of muscle mass in a midstage trial, potentially distinguishing it in the weight loss drug market.
- The company is among smaller biotech firms competing with industry giants like Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly in the weight loss drug space or seeking acquisition by larger entities to facilitate market entry.
- Results from Altimmune’s trial indicate that its drug, pemvidutide, resulted in 74% of weight loss from fat tissue and only 25.5% from lean mass, addressing concerns about muscle loss associated with obesity drugs. Additionally, Altimmune’s drug activates GLP-1 and glucagon, differing from semaglutide which suppresses appetite by mimicking a gut hormone, and Altimmune is exploring its drug’s potential in treating metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH).
Altimmune’s experimental drug has shown promising results in a midstage trial, demonstrating its potential to address concerns surrounding weight loss treatments by minimizing the loss of muscle mass while aiding in shedding weight. The trial revealed that over 74% of weight lost by patients who received Altimmune’s weekly injection was from fat tissue, with only 25.5% from lean mass, mirroring outcomes typically seen in weight loss programs involving diet and exercise. Patients administered with a 2.4-milligram dose of the drug weekly for 48 weeks experienced an average weight loss of 15.6%, with continued weight reduction even after treatment cessation. Altimmune’s Chief Medical Officer emphasized the importance of preserving lean mass during weight loss, noting its association with adverse outcomes such as decreased muscle strength and bone fractures, particularly in vulnerable populations. These results contrast with findings from a clinical trial on semaglutide, a weight loss drug from Novo Nordisk, which indicated a higher rate of lean mass decline. Altimmune’s drug, pemvidutide, activates gut hormones GLP-1 and glucagon to increase energy expenditure, offering a distinct mechanism compared to semaglutide’s appetite suppression. While Altimmune’s drug shows promise, further late-stage trials are needed to determine its comparative efficacy against existing treatments. Additionally, Altimmune is exploring the drug’s potential in treating metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), indicating its broader therapeutic applications beyond weight loss. Other pharmaceutical companies, such as Eli Lilly, are also investigating strategies to preserve muscle mass in obesity drug development, highlighting the industry’s focus on improving treatment outcomes.
For the full original article on CNBC, please click here: https://www.cnbc.com/2024/03/27/altimmune-weight-loss-drug-minimized-muscle-mass-loss-in-trial.html
