Obesity Weekly News - September 29th 2025

Obesity Update: Pfizer–Metsera Acquisition, Lilly’s $6.5B API Expansion, & More!

From Pfizer’s splashy $4.9B acquisition of Metsera and its next-generation oral and injectable obesity candidates to Lilly’s $6.5B API manufacturing expansion accelerating orforglipron development, this week’s headlines highlight dynamic shifts. Roche’s late-stage CT-388 obesity trials targeting a top-three market rank by 2030, Ascletis’s promising ASC47 plus semaglutide combo data, and Innovent’s rising mazdutide presence in China underscore rapid innovation and global momentum in obesity and metabolic disease.

In Today’s Newsletter

💊 Pfizer buys Metsera’s next-gen obesity portfolio [1]

https://www.stocktitan.net/news/PFE/pfizer-to-acquire-metsera-and-its-next-generation-obesity-apxqz09hvzwb.html
Context: Portfolio includes MET-097i (weekly/monthly GLP-1; Ph2), MET-233i (monthly amylin; Ph1; mono + combo), two oral GLP-1 RAs nearing trials, and preclinical nutrient-stimulated hormones; EASD late-breaker for MET-233i.Key point: Pfizer agreed to acquire Metsera for $47.50/share (~$4.9B EV) plus CVR up to $22.50/share tied to combo Ph3 start and two FDA approvals (monthly GLP-1 mono and combo).
Implication: Signals pipeline investment and modality expansion.

🧪 Roche pushes CT-388 to late-stage obesity trials [2]

https://www.devdiscourse.com/article/headlines/3636235-roches-bold-move-aiming-to-topple-giants-in-the-obesity-drug-market
Context: Prior early-stage data indicated notable weight loss; shares rose on program momentum (numbers not detailed in source).
Key point: Roche advanced CT-388 (from Carmot) to late-stage, aiming to challenge Novo/Lilly and reach top-three in obesity by 2030 (endpoint not specified).
Implication: Signals pipeline investment and modality expansion.

🇨🇳 Innovent’s mazdutide (Xinermei) builds share in China [3]

https://www.businessoffashion.com/news/beauty/innovent-challenges-novo-lilly-in-chinese-weight-loss-market/
Context: Market sizes and unit shares are opaque; article cites forecasts (e.g., RMB 600M 2025 contribution; peak RMB 3.5B by 2029) and notes Wegovy sales cadence and potential generic pressure.
Key point: Xinermei (mazdutide) is the third weekly GLP-1 for weight management in China after Wegovy and Mounjaro; launched in July and gaining traction.
Implication: May influence prescriber choice and payer reviews pending full data.

🏭 Lilly’s $6.5B API site to scale orforglipron (oral GLP-1) [4] [US • 23 Sep 2025]

https://investor.lilly.com/news-releases/news-release-details/lilly-plans-build-new-65-billion-facility-manufacture-active
Context: Facility expected operational within ~5 years; 615 permanent jobs and ~4,000 construction jobs; part of four new US sites.
Key point: Lilly plans a $6.5B API facility in Houston to manufacture small molecules, including orforglipron, which it expects to submit for obesity by year-end (regulatory region not specified).
Implication: Signals pipeline investment and modality expansion.

🧬 THRβ + GLP-1 combo: Ascletis ASC47 adds to semaglutide at day 29 [5] [Hong Kong • 22 Sep 2025]

https://www.manilatimes.net/2025/09/22/tmt-newswire/pr-newswire/ascletis-announces-asc47-in-combination-with-semaglutide-demonstrated-up-to-562-greater-relative-reduction-in-body-weight-in-participants-with-obesity-compared-to-semaglutide-monotherapy/2187943
Context: Randomized, double-blind, PBO-controlled; muscle outcomes not assessed; LDL-C reductions seen at ≥30 mg; target engagement via SHBG.
Key point: In a 28-day US Ph1b (n=28), single-dose ASC47 + weekly 0.5 mg semaglutide showed greater relative weight-loss vs semaglutide alone (e.g., +56.2% at 30 mg; pooled +31.6%); small cohorts.
Implication: May influence prescriber choice and payer reviews pending full data.

🧿 Quintuple agonist (GLP-1/GIP + pan-PPAR) shows preclinical efficacy [6]

https://www.news-medical.net/news/20250921/New-quintuple-agonist-shows-promise-for-treating-obesity-and-type-2-diabetes.aspx
Context: Uses lanifibranor as the pan-PPAR payload with targeted intracellular delivery; human trial timing not stated.
Key point: EASD presentation describes a unimolecular GLP-1R/GIPR/PPAR-α/δ/γ “quintuple agonist” with superior weight and glycemic effects vs GLP-1:GIP or semaglutide in obese/diabetic mice.
Implication: Signals pipeline investment and modality expansion.

🧩 Lilly halts one bimagrumab obesity study; another continues [7]

https://www.biopharmadive.com/news/lilly-terminate-obesity-trial-bimagrumab-muscle-diabetes/761105/
Context: FDA expectations may favor endpoints showing incremental weight loss beyond GLP-1 alone; initial readout from active study targeted in 2026 (per database, not detailed here).
Key point: Lilly terminated a planned 180-patient study of bimagrumab in obesity for “strategic” reasons; a separate trial testing bimagrumab ± Zepbound continues.
Implication: May influence prescriber choice and payer reviews pending full data.

🧫 COREE reports microbiome biomarkers for obesity/T2D [8]

https://www.morningstar.com/news/pr-newswire/20250926cn84161/coree-announces-discovery-of-microbiome-biomarkers-specific-to-diabetes-and-obesity-patients
Context: Metagenomic stool/saliva profiling with collaborators in Italy/Korea; exploratory clinical dataset; development aims include diagnostics and therapy stratification.
Key point: At EHMSG (Rome), a 93-patient obesity/T2D vs 45-control analysis identified gut and oral microbiome patterns and candidate taxa biomarkers.
Implication: Could inform practice and payer discussions; interpretation depends on study design and confounding control.

Why it matters

Big Pharma is consolidating obesity assets (Pfizer/Metsera) while expanding manufacturing (Lilly), reinforcing long-term commitment to metabolic therapeutics.
Competitive pressure is global: Roche’s CT-388 accelerates in the West, while Innovent’s mazdutide gains in China.
Mechanistic diversification continues (amylin, THRβ, muscle-sparing, poly-agonists), seeking efficacy, tolerability, and composition benefits.
Regulatory signals may push combo programs to prove incremental weight loss beyond GLP-1 benchmarks.
Biomarker work (microbiome) aims to enable diagnostics and response prediction but remains early.

📢 Stay Ahead in Obesity Updates!

✅ Contact LucidQuest at info@lqventures.com for strategic guidance on innovations in obesity care, treatment, and prevention.

FAQ

What exactly is Pfizer acquiring from Metsera?

A portfolio spanning MET-097i (weekly/monthly GLP-1; Ph2), MET-233i (monthly amylin; Ph1; mono + combo), two oral GLP-1 RAs near clinics, and preclinical hormone therapeutics; deal is $47.50/share plus up to $22.50/share CVR for milestones [1].

How far along is Roche’s CT-388?

The company stated CT-388 advanced to late-stage obesity trials; detailed endpoints and timelines weren’t specified in the source. Roche targets a top-three market position by 2030 [2].

Where does Innovent’s mazdutide stand versus Wegovy and Mounjaro in China?

It’s positioned as the third weekly GLP-1 for weight management post-launch in July, with forecasts indicating meaningful 2025 revenue; precise market shares are not disclosed [3].

When might orforglipron be filed?

Lilly said it expects to submit orforglipron for obesity to global regulators by the end of 2025; new Houston API capacity is intended to help scale supply post-approval [4].

What did Ascletis show with ASC47 + semaglutide?

In a small, 28-day Ph1b (n=28), the combo yielded greater relative weight-loss vs semaglutide 0.5 mg alone (dose-dependent, with LDL-C reductions at ≥30 mg); muscle outcomes were not assessed [5].

Did Lilly abandon bimagrumab?

No. One study was terminated for strategic reasons, but another trial evaluating bimagrumab with/without Zepbound continues, with endpoints aimed at weight loss and muscle preservation [7].

Entities / Keywords

Pfizer; Metsera; MET-097i (GLP-1 RA); MET-233i (amylin); oral GLP-1; Roche; CT-388 (Carmot); Innovent Biologics; mazdutide (Xinermei); Novo Nordisk (Wegovy); Eli Lilly (Zepbound/Mounjaro, orforglipron); API manufacturing; Ascletis; ASC47 (THRβ agonist); semaglutide; bimagrumab (myostatin/ActRIIB pathway); microbiome biomarkers; EHMSG; EASD; lanifibranor; pan-PPAR.