Obesity Today—November 25, 2025

LucidQuest

5 days ago

This week’s obesity update brings you the latest clinical advancements, industry progress, and key developments from top biopharma companies.

In this Newsletter

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💊 Mazdutide hits Phase 3 endpoints in GLORY-2 [1] [21 Nov 2025]

https://www.clinicaltrialsarena.com/news/innovent-boasts-another-pivotal-trial-success-for-obesity-drug/
Context: Phase 3 GLORY-2 (NCT06164873), 462 adults with obesity in China, 60 weeks, mazdutide 9 mg vs placebo.
Key point: Mean weight change −18.55% on mazdutide vs −3.02% placebo at 60 weeks; 44% achieved ≥20% loss vs 2.6% placebo; multiple metabolic secondary endpoints met, plus MRI-PDFF liver fat reduction reported.
Implication: May influence prescriber choice and payer reviews pending full data.

🧪 VK2735 Phase 3 VANQUISH-1 fully enrolled [2] [19 Nov 2025]

https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/viking-therapeutics-announces-completion-of-enrollment-in-phase-3-vanquish-1-trial-of-vk2735-302619296.html
Context: Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, ~4,650 adults with obesity or overweight, weekly SC 7.5, 12.5, 17.5 mg, 78-week primary, 52-week extension.
Key point: Enrollment completed ahead of plan; primary endpoint is percent weight change vs placebo at 78 weeks; secondary endpoints include share achieving ≥5% to ≥20% loss.
Implication: May influence prescriber choice and payer reviews pending full data.

💊 Orforglipron oral GLP-1 shows benefits in T2D, Lancet report [3] [20 Nov 2025]

https://www.news-medical.net/news/20251120/Oral-GLP-1-pill-shows-strong-weight-loss-and-blood-sugar-benefits-in-adults-with-diabetes.aspx
Context: ATTAIN-2, 72-week, 1,613 adults with obesity and T2D, daily oral orforglipron escalating doses; lifestyle advice included.
Key point: Dose-dependent weight loss up to ~10.5% vs ~2.2% placebo and improved glycemia, with mainly mild to moderate GI AEs, per News-Medical summary of The Lancet.
Implication: May influence prescriber choice and payer reviews pending full data.

🧫 Celltrion plans oral CT-G32 with >25% target loss claim [4] [20 Nov 2025]

https://www.businesskorea.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=256905
Context: Company briefing cites completed monkey studies; pre-clinical properties and safety work planned in 2026; quad-action targets not disclosed.
Key point: Celltrion aims for an oral obesity drug with weight loss above oral semaglutide and orforglipron, plus large CDMO and factory investments.
Implication: Signals pipeline investment and modality expansion.

🧩 Nxera restructures toward obesity and metabolic focus [5] [20 Nov 2025]

https://www.biospectrumasia.com/news/25/26904/japans-nxera-announces-restructuring-to-focus-pipeline-on-obesity-and-metabolic-diseases.html
Context: Emphasis on GPCR programs via NxWave platform; operating expense reductions; FY2025 one-time ~JPY500M restructuring charge; cash and liquid ~JPY30.9B.
Key point: Strategic pivot to next-gen obesity, metabolic, and endocrine programs, with partnered milestones expected in FY2026 and 2030 financial targets.
Implication: Signals pipeline investment and modality expansion.

💹 Lilly enters $1T market-cap tier on GLP-1 demand [6] [21 Nov 2025]

https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/lilly-becomes-first-drugmaker-join-trillion-dollar-club-weight-loss-demand-boom-2025-11-21/
Context: Comparative market-cap framing vs large pharma; discussion of GLP-1 demand, manufacturing scale-up, and policy attention to costs.
Key point: Reuters reports Lilly became the first drugmaker to hit $1 trillion valuation, reflecting surging GLP-1 market momentum.
Implication: Introduces competition that may affect pricing and formulary access.

🏢 Waltz Health DTE model for obesity meds, with Novo and Lilly [7] [21 Nov 2025]

https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/waltz-health-launches-new-direct-to-employer-access-model-for-obesity-management-medications-302622533.html
Context: Direct-to-employer access starting 01 Jan 2026, fixed pricing, eligibility checks, pharmacy routing, telehealth option; Novo to participate, working with Lilly.
Key point: New pathway for employer coverage of FDA-approved obesity meds with clinical safeguards and transparent pricing.
Implication: Could streamline initiation and adherence via remote prescribing and logistics.

🩺 Goodpath transparent employer pathway with clinical wrap [8] [21 Nov 2025]

https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/goodpath-expands-access-to-obesity-management-care-and-medications-through-new-transparent-offering-302622594.html
Context: Virtual integrative care with multidisciplinary support; claims potential ≥35% employer medication cost reductions.
Key point: Program aims to simplify access to FDA-approved meds, including Lilly’s, with coaching and adherence support.
Implication: Could streamline initiation and adherence via remote prescribing and logistics.

🕘 9amHealth “No-Barriers Bundle” for employer coverage [9] [21 Nov 2025]

https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/9amhealth-to-expand-access-to-obesity-management-treatment-through-new-employer-health-benefits-offering-302622452.html
Context: Transparent cost model, on-label access to Novo and Lilly products, integrated cardiometabolic care and remote monitoring.
Key point: Seeks predictable coverage and safety oversight for GLP-1s across employer plans.
Implication:
Could streamline initiation and adherence via remote prescribing and logistics.

Why it matters

Oral GLP-1 and multi-agonist pipelines are expanding, with strong Phase 3 signals and ambitious new entrants.
Employer-driven access models are proliferating, targeting cost predictability and medication authenticity.
Market leadership by Lilly underscores sustained GLP-1 demand, influencing investment and policy debates.
Strategic pivots, like Nxera’s, suggest capital and talent are concentrating in obesity and metabolic disease.
Future competition across injectables and orals could reshape pricing, coverage, and supply chains.

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FAQ

What did GLORY-2 show for mazdutide (Innovent)?

ClinicalTrialsArena reports mazdutide 9 mg achieved −18.55% mean weight loss vs −3.02% placebo at 60 weeks, with multiple secondary endpoints met and a reported MRI-PDFF liver fat reduction, in 462 adults with obesity in China [1]. Full dataset details are not provided.

How is Viking’s VK2735 Phase 3 designed?

VANQUISH-1 is a 78-week, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in ~4,650 adults with obesity or overweight, testing weekly SC 7.5, 12.5, 17.5 mg vs placebo, with a 52-week extension. Primary endpoint is percent weight change vs placebo [2].

What did ATTAIN-2 report for oral orforglipron?

Per News-Medical’s write-up of The Lancet paper, orforglipron delivered dose-dependent weight loss up to ~10.5% vs ~2.2% placebo over 72 weeks in adults with T2D and obesity, with improved glycemia and mostly mild to moderate GI AEs [3]. Specific subgroup and safety tables are not included.

What is Celltrion’s CT-G32 and its status?

Celltrion says CT-G32 is an oral, quad-action obesity candidate with a target of >25% weight loss compared to current oral GLP-1 options. Monkey studies are done, with pre-clinical property and safety work planned next year. Targets are undisclosed [4].

How are employers expanding access to GLP-1s?

Waltz Health will launch a direct-to-employer model on 01 Jan 2026 with fixed pricing and clinical checks, with Novo participating and work underway with Lilly [7]. Goodpath offers a transparent pathway with multidisciplinary care and claims potential ≥35% cost reduction [8]. 9amHealth’s bundle includes on-label access to Novo and Lilly products with integrated cardiometabolic care [9].

Why is Lilly’s valuation notable here?

Reuters reports Lilly became the first drugmaker to reach a $1 trillion market cap, reflecting GLP-1 demand, capacity investments, and policy scrutiny on costs, reinforcing the category’s macro impact [6].

Entities / Keywords

Innovent Biologics, mazdutide, GLORY-2; Viking Therapeutics, VK2735, VANQUISH-1; Eli Lilly, orforglipron, ATTAIN-2; Celltrion, CT-G32; Nxera Pharma, GPCR, NxWave; Eli Lilly valuation; Waltz Health, Goodpath, 9amHealth; Novo Nordisk; GLP-1, GIP, glucagon, obesity, T2D, employer benefits, direct-to-employer, transparency.