Obesity Weekly News - October 7th 2025

Obesity Update: MET-097i Breakthrough, New EASO Guidelines, & More!

From Metsera’s MET-097i Phase 2b data showing up to 14% placebo-subtracted weight loss to EASO’s new guideline endorsing semaglutide and tirzepatide as first-line obesity treatments, this week’s update highlights fast-moving global developments. IQVIA reports growing out-of-pocket obesity markets driven by digital access models, while Pfizer establishes parity pricing for new launches. Meanwhile, Guangzhou Innogen advances Efsubaglutide Alfa into Phase 3 in China, and Korean-Chinese pipelines strengthen with early oral GLP-1 candidates.

In Today’s Newsletter

🧭 OOP obesity market playbook shifts to consumer choice [1] [30 Sep 2025]

https://www.iqvia.com/blogs/2025/09/rethinking-access-strategy-in-the-out-of-pocket-obesity-market
Context: IQVIA blog on cash-pay dynamics, price sensitivity, and digital care enablement.
Key point: Patients prioritize speed, tolerability, convenience, and lower cost over payer-style cost-effectiveness models.
Implication: Could inform practice and payer discussions; interpretation depends on study design and confounding control.

🇺🇸 Pfizer says it reached a US drug-pricing accord with Administration [2] [US • 30 Sep 2025]

https://www.pfizer.com/news/press-release/press-release-detail/pfizer-reaches-landmark-agreement-us-government-lower-drug
Context: Corporate press release with high-level terms; specific provisions remain confidential.
Key point: States parity pricing for new launches across developed markets and discounted direct purchasing for patients.
Implication: Introduces competition that may affect pricing and formulary access.

💉 Metsera MET-097i hits up to 14.1% placebo-subtracted weight loss in Phase 2b [3] [30 Sep 2025]

https://www.clinicaltrialsarena.com/news/pfizers-obesity-bet-shows-14-1-weight-loss-in-phase-iib-trial/
Context: VESPER-1, 28 weeks, GLP-1 RA; VESPER-3 safety noted, efficacy pending.
Key point: Reports mean placebo-subtracted weight loss up to 14.1% at once-weekly 1.2 mg; tolerability described as similar to approved agents.
Implication: May influence prescriber choice and payer reviews pending full data.

📄 Guangzhou Innogen starts China Phase 3 in obesity, first patient dosed [4] [HK • 30 Sep 2025]

https://www.hkexnews.hk/listedco/listconews/sehk/2025/0930/2025093001504.pdf
Context: HKEX filing; Efsubaglutide Alfa Phase 3 in obesity or overweight; planned enrollment about 800.
Key point: First patient dosing completed; success not guaranteed per standard cautions.
Implication: May influence prescriber choice and payer reviews pending full data.

🌏 KR–CN pipelines accelerate toward GLP-1 competition [5] [01 Oct 2025]

https://www.msn.com/en-xl/news/other/korean-chinese-firms-accelerate-obesity-drug-development/ar-AA1NCPxt
Context: Aggregated media on regional obesity R&D activity.
Key point: Ildong oral GLP-1 candidate reportedly showed up to 13.8% weight loss over 4 weeks in Phase 1 (early disclosure).
Implication: Signals pipeline investment and modality expansion.

🏭 Nanologica to evaluate silica media for insulin manufacturing in China [6] [CN • 01 Oct 2025]

https://nanologica.com/mfn_news/nanologica-ab-publ-enters-the-insulin-market-in-china/
Context: Company note; ~SEK 2 million order to evaluate NLAB Saga® at production scale.
Key point: First China insulin manufacturing evaluation order, aiming to lower purification costs.
Implication: Signals pipeline investment and modality expansion.

🧠 Endevica touts oral dual MC3/4R mechanism for durable weight loss (NHP) [7] [02 Oct 2025]

https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/endevica-bio-unveils-differentiated-mechanism-for-durable-weight-loss-in-obesity-302573897.html
Context: Preclinical obese nonhuman primate data for oral 710GO, alone and with incretins.
Key point: Reports 11.7% weight loss over 15 weeks with minimal rebound and no GI side effects in NHPs.
Implication: Signals pipeline investment and modality expansion.

🇰🇷 Hanmi advances non-GLP-1 HM17321, files US IND [8] [KR • 02 Oct 2025]

https://www.chosun.com/english/industry-en/2025/10/02/XQF44Y633BHQBFFWMWEGWPWRIE/
Context: Media report; urocortin-2-based CRF2 approach; separate GLP-1 efpeglenatide in Phase 3.
Key point: US Phase 1 IND submitted; prior presentations cited fat loss with muscle gain.
Implication: Signals pipeline investment and modality expansion.

🇪🇺 EASO: GLP-1s should be first-line for obesity in Europe [9] [EU • 03 Oct 2025]

https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/novo-lilly-weight-loss-drugs-should-be-first-option-obesity-treatments-european-2025-10-02/
Context: Guideline from the European Association for the Study of Obesity, published in Nature Medicine.
Key point: Recommends semaglutide and tirzepatide as first choice when substantial weight loss is needed.
Implication: May influence prescriber choice and payer reviews pending full data.

Why it matters

Cash-pay dynamics are reshaping access, pricing, and evidence strategy in obesity therapy [1].
Metsera’s reported data indicate competitive GLP-1 activity, with fuller efficacy pending [3].
China Phase 3 initiation highlights regional development and potential domestic competition [4].
Mechanistic diversification beyond incretins, including MC3/4R and CRF2, could broaden options and side-effect profiles [7][8].
European first-line guidance for GLP-1s may accelerate uptake and reimbursement discussions [9].

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FAQ

What did Metsera’s MET-097i show in mid-stage testing?

ClinicaltrialsArena reports up to 14.1% placebo-subtracted weight loss at 28 weeks in VESPER-1 with once-weekly 1.2 mg; VESPER-3 efficacy not yet reported, with safety details noted [3].

Is Pfizer’s US pricing agreement detailed?

Pfizer outlines parity for new-launch prices across developed markets and a discounted direct purchasing platform; specific terms remain confidential in the release [2].

Which program in China just entered Phase 3 for obesity?

Guangzhou Innogen reported first patient dosing for Efsubaglutide Alfa, targeting about 800 participants in a Phase 3 obesity or overweight study [4].

Are there notable non-GLP-1 mechanisms emerging?

Endevica highlights oral dual MC3/4R activity in NHPs, and Hanmi filed a US IND for a CRF2-targeted candidate, both positioned as differentiated approaches vs GLP-1s [7][8].

How could the new European guideline affect practice?

EASO recommends semaglutide and tirzepatide as first-line options when substantial weight loss is needed, which may shift prescribing and payer reviews [9].

Entities / Keywords

Semaglutide (Wegovy/Ozempic); Tirzepatide (Zepbound/Mounjaro); MET-097i (Metsera; GLP-1 RA); Efsubaglutide Alfa (Guangzhou Innogen); HM17321 (Hanmi; CRF2/urocortin-2); 710GO (Endevica; dual MC3/4R); Ildong oral GLP-1; IQVIA access strategy; EASO guideline; Nanologica NLAB Saga®; Out-of-pocket market; Digital obesity care.