Obesity Today—November 4, 2025

LucidQuest

2 months ago

This week’s obesity update spotlights key developments, regulatory milestones, and the latest progress shaping the biopharma landscape.

In this Newsletter

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🧪 Efpeglenatide Phase 3 topline in Korea [1] [Korea • 28 October 2025]

https://www.businesskorea.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=254994
Context: 448 adults with obesity, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled; no serious AEs or discontinuations reported; 64-week total duration.
Key point: Interim 40-week topline shows ~9.75% mean loss, with lower rates of nausea, vomiting, diarrhea vs known incidence with Wegovy and tirzepatide (no head-to-head).
Implication: May influence prescriber choice and payer reviews pending full data.

🧬 RNAi for obesity with once or twice-yearly potential [2] [30 October 2025]

https://www.clinicaltrialsarena.com/news/wave-life-sciences-obesity-sirna-shows-once-or-twice-yearly-potential/
Context: Phase 1 INLIGHT; doses 75/240/400 mg; no serious AEs reported; dose expansion supported to 600 mg.
Key point: WVE-007 single doses cut Activin E 56–85% across cohorts, durable to 6 months in low-dose group.
Implication: May influence prescriber choice and payer reviews pending full data.

💊 Lilly’s orforglipron eyes accelerated FDA path [3] [US • 30 Oct 2025]

https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/eli-lilly-raises-full-year-forecast-sees-sustained-demand-weight-loss-drugs-2025-10-30/
Context: Late-stage study showed ~12.4% weight loss; significant US manufacturing investment cited by company.
Key point: Company says pill meets most criteria for new national-priority voucher program, filing this quarter.
Implication: May influence prescriber choice and payer reviews pending full data.

📊 VK2735 updates at ObesityWeek and AHA [4] [US • 29 Oct 2025]

https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/viking-therapeutics-to-highlight-clinical-data-from-vk2735-obesity-program-in-presentations-at-obesityweek-2025-302597590.html
Context: VK2735 is dual GLP-1/GIP agonist, in SC and oral formulations.
Key point: Posters to cover Phase 2 VENTURE exploratory analysis and Phase 3 VANQUISH-1 design in obesity; AHA posters include VANQUISH-2 in T2D and BMI-related cardiometabolic prevalence.
Implication: Signals pipeline investment and modality expansion.

🧱 Ascletis multi-asset obesity posters at ObesityWeek [5] [HK • 27 Oct 2025]

https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ascletis-to-present-study-results-of-asc30-oral-tablet-asc30-injection-and-combination-of-asc31-and-asc47-at-obesityweek-2025-302595125.html
Context: Multiple posters Nov 4 at ObesityWeek 2025, Atlanta.
Key point: Late-breaking MAD analysis for oral GLP-1R small molecule ASC30 plus once-monthly SQ and once-quarterly maintenance data; peptide combo ASC31+ASC47 preclinical comparison vs tirzepatide in DIO mice.
Implication: Signals pipeline investment and modality expansion.

🤝 Novo Nordisk challenges Pfizer for Metsera [6] [US • 30 Oct 2025]

https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/novo-nordisk-makes-unsolicited-offer-metsera-2025-10-30/
Context: Competing bids reflect strategic positioning in obesity market; Pfizer objects to Novo’s move.
Key point: Novo Nordisk submits unsolicited, higher offer that Metsera deems “superior,” notifying Pfizer.
Implication: Signals pipeline investment and modality expansion.

🏆 Tirzepatide becomes top-selling medicine globally [7] [30 Oct 2025]

https://www.statnews.com/2025/10/30/eli-lilly-zepbound-mounjaro-bestselling-obesity-drug/
Context: Product sold as Mounjaro for T2D and Zepbound for obesity; rapid ramp since 2022–2023 approvals.
Key point: Lilly reports Q3 tirzepatide sales that surpass Keytruda, per outlet’s summary of company results.
Implication: Introduces competition that may affect pricing and formulary access.

🛡️ Korea considers misuse-of-abuse designation for obesity drugs [8] [Korea • 29 Oct 2025]

https://www.koreabiomed.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=29423
Context: Actions would address dose-splitting, rapid escalation, and illegal online sales, including Wegovy.
Key point: MFDS weighing classification amid concerns on improper use, with plans to enhance monitoring and enforce advertising limits.
Implication: Access programs: May expand screening, initiation, and follow-up at scale.

🏥 UK funds SCoMIS real-world obesity medicines study [9] [UK • 01 Nov 2025]

https://www.miragenews.com/uk-gov-funds-obesity-study-for-scotlands-poorest-1562245/
Context: Collaboration among UK and Scottish governments, University of Glasgow, Novo Nordisk, IQVIA; full launch planned for 2026.
Key point: Initial £650k to design Scotland CardioMetabolic Impact Study, targeting 3,000–5,000 participants from deprived communities.
Implication: Could inform practice and payer discussions; interpretation depends on study design and confounding control.

Why it matters

New modalities like RNAi may reduce dosing burden for obesity care [2].
Safety-tolerability profiles remain a key differentiator for long-term adherence [1].
Competitive M&A shapes access to next-generation mechanisms [6].
National policies could tighten safe-use oversight and influence uptake [8].
Large RWE cohorts can validate effectiveness and equity impacts at scale [9].

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FAQ

What did Hanmi’s efpeglenatide show in Phase 3?

Topline at 40 weeks reported ~9.75% mean weight loss with lower GI AE rates versus known blockbusters, no serious AEs or discontinuations, in a Korean study population [1]. Full endpoints at 64 weeks not yet reported.

How often might Wave’s WVE-007 be dosed?

Phase 1 biomarker data showed durable Activin E suppression up to 6 months after a single dose in the low-dose cohort, suggesting once or twice-yearly potential, with no serious AEs to date [2]. Weight outcomes are pending.

Is Lilly’s orforglipron getting a faster FDA review?

Lilly plans to file this quarter and says the pill meets most criteria for the FDA’s national-priority voucher program that shortens review timelines, subject to FDA determination [3].

What is Viking presenting on VK2735?

ObesityWeek posters include a Phase 2 VENTURE exploratory analysis and the Phase 3 VANQUISH-1 design, with AHA posters on VANQUISH-2 in T2D and cardiometabolic prevalence across BMI categories [4].

Why are Novo Nordisk and Pfizer competing for Metsera?

Both seek strategic assets in obesity. Novo submitted a higher unsolicited bid that Metsera labeled superior, prompting a response window for Pfizer [6].

What is the UK’s SCoMIS study aiming to do?

Design a 2026 real-world study of 3,000–5,000 Scottish patients, focusing on obesity medicine impact in deprived communities, led by University of Glasgow with Novo Nordisk and IQVIA [9].

Entities / Keywords

Efpeglenatide (Hanmi Pharmaceutical; GLP-1), WVE-007 (Wave Life Sciences; siRNA), Orforglipron (Eli Lilly; oral GLP-1), VK2735 (Viking Therapeutics; GLP-1/GIP), ASC30/ASC31/ASC47 (Ascletis), Tirzepatide (Eli Lilly; Zepbound/Mounjaro), Wegovy/Ozempic (Novo Nordisk), Metsera, MFDS Korea, SCoMIS, University of Glasgow, IQVIA.