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Pharmaceutical giant Pfizer ended the development of an experimental daily weight loss pill after one patient experienced a potential side effect.
A patient reportedly had a liver injury possibly caused by the drug in the trial.
“Interesting. Are the rules different for vaccines,” Children’s Health Defense commented.
Interesting.
Are the rules different for vaccines, @pfizer? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/XvLWCoCYiM
— Children’s Health Defense (@ChildrensHD) April 14, 2025
Per CNBC:
The patient did not experience any liver-related symptoms or side effects, a Pfizer spokesperson said in a statement. They added that the patient’s liver enzymes “recovered rapidly” after they stopped taking the pill, which is an oral GLP-1 drug called danuglipron. The statement suggests that the patient’s liver enzymes were elevated, which often indicates damage to cells in the organ and is an issue that has been linked to some other obesity drugs.
The case occurred in a trial that quickly increased the dose of the pill over a short period of time, the spokesperson said. Pfizer’s decision to halt development of the drug came after “a review of the totality of information, including all clinical data generated to date for danuglipron and recent input from regulators,” according to a release.
“While we are disappointed to discontinue the development of danuglipron, we remain committed to evaluating and advancing promising programs in an effort to bring innovative new medicines to patients,” Dr. Chris Boshoff, Pfizer’s chief scientific officer, said in the release. He added that the company is still developing other weight loss drugs.
The announcement adds to a string of setbacks in the company’s bid to win a slice of the booming market for GLP-1s, which mimic certain gut hormones to tamp down appetite and regulate blood sugar. Pfizer is among several drugmakers racing to bring a more convenient weight loss medicine to a space dominated by weekly injections, but it is years behind competitors such as Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk.
BREAKING: Pfizer abandons weight-loss pill after one liver injury.
But vaccine injuries? No problem.
Guess there’s no mandate to be skinny. pic.twitter.com/dFFUSKuuFZ
— “Sudden And Unexpected” (@toobaffled) April 14, 2025
Pfizer scraps daily weight loss pill after liver injury in one patient https://t.co/8YTJQ2xIHL
— CNBC (@CNBC) April 14, 2025
From Investor’s Business Daily:
Viking Therapeutics (VKTX) stock rocketed Monday after Pfizer (PFE) scrapped development of its daily weight-loss pill, danuglipron, after one patient experienced a potential drug-induced liver injury.
This is the second big setback for danuglipron and the third for Pfizer’s obesity treatment efforts. William Blair analyst Andy Hsieh says it could be a boon for Viking, which has shed roughly 66% over the last six months amid emerging competition and the deteriorating macro.
Investors are closely watching Viking Therapeutics as a potential takeover target with its experimental weight-loss drug, VK2735.
“VK2735 could offer Pfizer a rare opportunity to reestablish not only a mere presence in obesity, but also a leading position beyond the current Novo Nordisk (NVO)-Eli Lilly (LLY) duopoly,” Hsieh said in a report. “Notably, VK2735 is on track to initiate Phase III studies in the next two to three months, following the release of competitive 13-week weight loss results, coupled with (a) promising tolerability profile.”
Leerink Partners analyst Thomas Smith said Pfizer’s “stumble” could open up strategic optionality for Viking and VK2735. Viking Therapeutics is developing it as a weight-loss shot and pill.