Exciting Results from Amgen’s Phase 2 Trial of MariTide Weight Loss Drug

Amgen Stock Surges 13% After CEO Teases Positive Trial Results for Weight Loss Drug MariTide

Amgen stock saw a significant increase of 13% during Friday morning trading following CEO Robert Bradway’s announcement of promising trial results for the company’s experimental weight loss drug, MariTide. The news has sparked excitement among investors and industry experts alike, as Amgen looks to disrupt the weight loss drug market currently dominated by Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly.

Bradway hinted at encouraging interim phase 2 analysis results during a call with investors, stating, “We are very encouraged with results that we’ve seen thus far and with the conduct of the trial. We’re confident in MariTide’s differentiated profile and believe it will address important unmet medical needs.” The full results of the phase 2 trial are expected to be released later this year, with plans already in place for a larger phase 3 trial targeting multiple uses, including obesity and diabetes.

The competition in the weight loss drug market is fierce, with Novo Nordisk’s Ozempic and Wegovy, as well as Eli Lilly’s Zepbound, currently holding a strong position. However, Amgen’s MariTide is poised to make a significant impact, with analysts projecting a global market value of $105 billion for GLP-1 drugs, the class to which these weight loss medications belong, by 2030.

Early stage trials of MariTide have shown promising results, with users experiencing an average weight loss of 14.5% in just 12 weeks. This puts MariTide in direct competition with Wegovy, which has shown an average weight loss of 15% in 68 weeks. Amgen’s Chief Scientific Officer, James E. Bradner, highlighted the convenience of MariTide, which is expected to be administered through a handheld auto-injector device with a monthly or less frequent single-injection schedule, as opposed to the weekly injections required by current weight loss drugs on the market.

As the race for the next breakthrough weight loss drug heats up, Amgen’s MariTide is certainly a contender to watch, with the potential to revolutionize the industry and provide much-needed solutions for individuals struggling with obesity and related health conditions.