STAT+: Pharmalittle: We’re reading about an Amgen obesity drug, a Senate bill on shortages and more
And so, another working week will soon draw to a close. Not a moment too soon, yes? This is, you may recall, our treasured signal to daydream about weekend plans. Our agenda is still on the drawing board, but we do plan to catch some outdoor sounds, promenade with the official mascots, manicure the grounds, and hold another listening party, where the rotation will likely include this, this, this, this and this. And what about you? There is much to do this time of year — the great outdoors are beckoning with mountains to climb, lakes to swim, and beaches to stroll. There are also cityscapes to explore if crowds are your thing. Perhaps you prefer to catch up on your reading, instead. Or maybe just plan the rest of your life. Well, whatever you do, have a grand time. But be safe. Enjoy, and see you soon. …
Amgen will no longer develop an early-stage obesity pill, and will instead focus on a more advanced injectable candidate that is seen as a potential competitor to Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy and Eli Lilly’s Zepbound, STAT tells us . The injectable drug, called MariTide, is in a Phase 2 trial for obesity, and chief executive officer Bob Bradway told analysts in an earnings call that “we are very encouraged with the results” from an interim analysis of that trial. Topline data are expected late this year. The company is planning a “broad” Phase 3 program that will study MariTide in obesity, diabetes, and obesity-related conditions,.
In a boost for Gilead Sciences, the California Supreme Court agreed to review a contentious legal theory that thousands of HIV patients have used in a closely watched case to argue drugmakers can be held negligent for failing to develop a medicine, STAT reports. Earlier this year, a state appeals court ruled the company could be held liable for halting further development of an HIV medicine that was safer than an HIV drug it was already selling. Back in 2004, Gilead explained its decision by maintaining the medicines were not sufficiently different, but internal documents produced in court suggested the company made this move in order to maximize profits.
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