(Reuters) -Metsera’s experimental obesity drug showed significant weight loss and favorable tolerability in two mid-stage studies, the drug developer said on Monday.
The injectable drug, MET-097i, led to a placebo-adjusted weight loss of up to 14.1% after 28 weekly doses ranging from 0.4 mg to 1.2 mg, the company said.
MET-097i is a GLP-1 receptor agonist like Eli Lilly’s Zepbound and Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy, mimicking the action of the naturally occurring hormone to regulate appetite and glucose metabolism.
Metsera has “high degree of confidence” that MET-097i could match or exceed the performance of a 15 mg dose of tirzepatide, the active ingredient in Zepbound, at steady state, the company said.
In another ongoing trial with 268 patients, those on the highest dose of MET-097i experienced minimal diarrhea after 12 weeks of treatment, while the rate of nausea and vomiting was slightly higher than placebo.
The drug showed overall tolerability in patients without type 2 diabetes who are overweight or have obesity, Metsera said.
It plans to begin late-stage trials later this year and develop the drug for use in combination therapies and oral versions.
Pfizer said last week that it would buy Metsera in a deal valued at up to $7.3 billion, including future payments.
The acquisition lets Pfizer enter the fast-growing obesity drug market, which is expected to reach $150 billion globally by the early 2030s.
Metsera is also evaluating MET-233i, another experimental drug, in early-stage trials as a monthly monotherapy and in combination with MET-097i.
Shares of the New York-based drug developer were up 1% in extended trading.
(Reporting by Siddhi Mahatole in Bengaluru; Editing by Sahal Muhammed)
