AstraZeneca reported that its experimental weight-loss pill, AZD5004, licensed from China’s Eccogene, proved safe and tolerable in an initial Phase I trial. According to a Reuters report, the study, involving 72 participants, was focused on evaluating the pill’s safety, a typical objective for early-stage clinical trials. Participants included both healthy, non-obese volunteers and individuals with type 2 diabetes.
Following the data release, AstraZeneca’s stock saw a temporary rise, peaking at a 2.9% increase before settling at a 0.7% gain later in the day. The positive outcomes have encouraged the company to advance the drug to Phase II trials, with plans to test its effectiveness on body weight reduction in obese and overweight individuals. This next phase is expected to conclude by the end of 2025, according to Sharon Barr, AstraZeneca’s executive vice president of biopharmaceuticals R&D.
The once-daily pill, acquired from Eccogene in a deal worth up to $2 billion, is anticipated to have fewer side effects than current injectable weight-loss treatments, such as Eli Lilly’s Zepbound and Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy.
In additional findings from a smaller trial, the AZD5004 pill was shown to be effective when taken with or without food, without the need for fasting. This new drug may become a competitive option in the growing weight-loss market, currently dominated by existing injectable therapies.
