Lilly's new weight loss drug shows promise in mid-stage trial

Eli Lilly said on Thursday it will start late-stage trials of its experimental obesity drug next month after it helped patients lose as much as 20.1% of their weight in a mid-stage trial

Eli Lilly said on Thursday it will start late-stage trials of its experimental obesity drug next month after it helped patients lose as much as 20.1% of their weight in a mid-stage trial.

The drugmaker’s shares rose nearly 2% in premarket trading.

The first wave of obesity drugs, which dominate the market, has mainly focused on the gut hormone GLP-1, but drugmakers are now looking for medicines that target other hormones or help preserve muscle mass during fat-loss with their next generation of drugs.

The experimental once-weekly drug, eloralintide, belongs to the class of drugs that mimic the pancreatic hormone amylin which slows digestion and suppresses hunger.

Large drugmakers such as Roche and AbbVie have signed deals to access experimental amylin drugs. Zealand Pharma is testing its rival experimental drug, petrelintide, in collaboration with partner Roche.