Business
Pfizer Advances Once-Daily Weight Loss Pill After Early Study Success
Pfizer is advancing a once-daily version of its weight loss medication, danuglipron, following encouraging findings from an ongoing early-stage study. The pharmaceutical company announced on Thursday that it has identified a formulation that shows a favorable safety profile and effective bodily response.
The company plans to carry out more early-stage trials in the latter half of this year to determine the optimal dosage, with results expected by the first quarter of next year. These results will be pivotal for the registration enabling studies required for regulatory approval.
Dr. Mikael Dolsten, Pfizer’s outgoing Chief Scientific Officer, expressed optimism about the drug’s potential, stating, “Danuglipron has demonstrated good efficacy in a twice-daily formulation, and we believe a once-daily formulation has the potential to have a competitive profile in the oral GLP-1 space.” Notably, the study found no liver safety issues with the once-daily formulations.
Pfizer is among several pharmaceutical companies racing to capture a share of the market for GLP-1 agonists, a class of drugs highly sought after for weight loss and diabetes management. Analysts predict this market could be worth approximately $100 billion by the end of the decade.
Despite this potential, Pfizer has faced challenges breaking into the GLP-1 space. In December, the company discontinued a twice-daily version of danuglipron due to patient tolerance issues in a mid-stage study. Investor confidence was further dampened when Pfizer scrapped another once-daily pill in June 2023 after patients showed elevated liver enzymes. These setbacks, alongside the decline of its Covid business, have impacted Pfizer’s stock performance.
Nonetheless, Pfizer continues to develop other experimental obesity drugs and maintains a robust pipeline of three clinical and several pre-clinical candidates. “Obesity is a key therapeutic area for Pfizer,” Dolsten emphasized.
Competitors Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly have seen rising demand for their injectable GLP-1 drugs, despite high costs and limited insurance coverage. These companies, along with Pfizer, are striving to develop oral versions that are more convenient for patients and easier to produce, which could help alleviate supply shortages in the U.S.
Pfizer has also indicated it may pursue acquisitions or partnerships with smaller obesity drugmakers. CEO Albert Bourla mentioned in January that while acquiring a late-stage obesity treatment is unlikely, the company is exploring potential licensing deals or earlier-stage weight loss drugs as part of its strategic focus on cost management.
With a potential TikTok ban looming in the United States, many of the app’s 170 million American users are flocking to the Chinese platform RedNote. Dubbed “TikTok refugees,” these users have propelled RedNote to the top spot on Apple’s US App Store as of Monday.
RedNote, known in China as Xiaohongshu or “Little Red Book,” boasts approximately 300 million monthly users and combines features similar to TikTok and Instagram. It is particularly popular among young urban women in China, Taiwan, and other Mandarin-speaking regions, offering a platform for exchanging lifestyle tips on topics ranging from fashion to relationships.
The app’s growing popularity comes as the U.S. Supreme Court prepares to decide on a law requiring TikTok to sell its U.S. operations by January 19 or face a ban. TikTok has refused to sell, arguing that such a move would violate the free speech rights of its users.
RedNote has embraced its influx of U.S. users, with 63,000 posts tagged “TikTok refugee” providing guidance on navigating the platform and learning basic Chinese phrases. One U.S. user humorously wrote, “To our Chinese hosts, thanks for having us—sorry in advance for the chaos.”
Despite its warm reception, RedNote is not without controversy. Critics point to censorship concerns, particularly regarding criticisms of the Chinese government. Additionally, public officials in Taiwan are restricted from using RedNote due to perceived security risks associated with Chinese software.
As U.S. users join RedNote, some Chinese users have joked about being labeled “Chinese spies,” referencing U.S. officials’ concerns over TikTok’s alleged ties to Chinese government surveillance. However, RedNote has distanced itself from political associations, stating that its name does not reference Mao Zedong’s famous “Little Red Book.”
Bitcoin has soared to a new all-time high, briefly surpassing $106,000 (£83,890) on Monday during Asian trading hours. The cryptocurrency’s unprecedented rally marks a 50% surge since Donald Trump’s victory in the U.S. presidential election on November 5, with market sentiment buoyed by the incoming administration’s pro-cryptocurrency stance.
The Trump administration has signaled a friendlier approach to digital currencies compared to its predecessor. Notably, President-elect Trump recently announced plans to explore creating a national Bitcoin reserve, akin to the U.S. strategic oil reserve, to support the cryptocurrency’s strategic adoption.
Peter McGuire of trading platform XM.com attributed the surge to growing “FOMO” (fear of missing out) among investors. “The Bitcoin rally since the election has been parabolic,” McGuire explained. “Many investors believe $120,000 is achievable by the end of the year, and projections for mid-2025 suggest prices could exceed $150,000.”
Adding to the market optimism, Trump has appointed David Sacks, a Silicon Valley entrepreneur and former PayPal executive, as his AI and cryptocurrency czar. Sacks, known for his close ties to Trump advisor and billionaire Elon Musk, is expected to play a significant role in shaping the administration’s blockchain and cryptocurrency policies.
Chinese crypto entrepreneur Justin Sun, known for his headline-grabbing antics, recently made waves after consuming a $6.2 million banana in an art stunt. Not long after, Sun invested $30 million into World Liberty Financial, a cryptocurrency firm with ties to former President Donald Trump.
The investment proved transformative for the struggling company, pushing it past the threshold needed for Trump to begin profiting from the venture. Trump and his family are now positioned to collect around $20 million, with the potential for more.
Sun, currently facing fraud charges in the U.S. over his own crypto operations, did not elaborate on why he backed the untradable token initiative. However, the move has raised concerns among ethics experts, who view it as an example of how Trump’s vast business interests could create avenues for influence.
Richard Painter, former White House ethics lawyer under George W. Bush, noted the heightened risk:
“The conflicts have grown substantially with the scope of his business empire.”
Trump’s spokeswoman, Karoline Leavitt, dismissed concerns, highlighting that Trump had distanced himself from his real estate empire during his presidency and donated his salary:
“Unlike most politicians, President Trump didn’t get into politics for profit – he’s fighting because he loves this country.”
Critics argue that Trump has not adequately addressed the potential for corruption as his business dealings expand ahead of a possible return to the White House.
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