The success of GLP-1 medicines for weight loss has prompted a broad development race among pharmaceutical companies. Eli Lilly, Novo Nordisk, Amgen, Roche, Pfizer and Viking Therapeutics are working on treatments intended to compete in the expanding obesity-drug market, although the programs are at different stages and the public evidence varies significantly.
A review by Reuters identified several experimental medicines in development. For a number of them, the companies have not disclosed trial results, safety findings, detailed mechanisms of action or expected launch dates. The absence of those details means that the medicines’ eventual regulatory status and commercial timing remain undetermined.
What the companies have disclosed
| Company | Medicine | Publicly reported information |
|---|---|---|
| Eli Lilly | EloraTZP, Foundayo and retatrutide | No known approval status; detailed trial and safety information has not been released |
| Novo Nordisk | Amycretin and Cagrisema | Development details, results, safety findings and timeline have not been released |
| Amgen | MariTide | Six late-stage trials; a yearlong study reported 20% average weight loss |
| Roche | enicepatide | Trial participants lost an average of 15.5% of body weight and had lower blood sugar |
| Viking Therapeutics | VK2735 | Two forms are being studied; one study excluded people with diabetes |
| Pfizer | PF-3944 | Release timing, trial results, safety findings and mechanism have not been disclosed |
Amgen’s MariTide is among the more advanced programs described. The medicine is being tested in six late-stage trials involving obesity and related conditions, including heart disease and sleep apnea. In a yearlong trial, participants who took MariTide lost 20% of their body weight, according to the report.
MariTide blocks GIP receptors while a peptide activates GLP-1 receptors. A January study also found that participants maintained their weight loss after moving to less frequent dosing or a lower dose. Those who received the largest dose every two months lost a similar amount of weight to participants given monthly treatment.
Several programs remain early or opaque
Roche’s enicepatide is described as a dual-acting treatment aimed at obesity and Type 2 diabetes. Participants in a clinical trial lost an average of 15.5% of their body weight, and the medicine lowered blood sugar. The reported trial findings provide an indication of activity, but they do not establish whether regulators will approve the drug or when it could become available.
Viking Therapeutics is developing VK2735 in two forms, although the differences between them have not been disclosed. Researchers excluded people with diabetes from one study, limiting how directly those results apply to that population. Pfizer’s PF-3944 is also described as experimental, with no publicly available release timeline, test results, safety findings or explanation of how it works in the body.
Eli Lilly’s pipeline includes EloraTZP, Foundayo and retatrutide. Foundayo has been given a brand name, but that designation does not indicate regulatory approval. The three medicines have no known approval status, and Lilly has not released the detailed development information described in the report. Novo Nordisk’s Amycretin and Cagrisema likewise have no brand names or approval status reported, while information about their operation, testing and development schedule has not been released.
The programs illustrate the range of approaches being pursued after GLP-1 medicines became widely used for weight loss. However, the reported results are not directly interchangeable: the drugs are at different development stages, the studies may involve different populations and the available descriptions do not provide a common measure for comparing efficacy or safety. Regulatory decisions will depend on the full clinical evidence submitted for each medicine.
- MariTide: six late-stage trials are under way, and a yearlong study reported 20% average weight loss.
- Enicepatide: a clinical trial reported 15.5% average weight loss and lower blood sugar.
- Other candidates: many programs still lack publicly disclosed safety results, trial data or launch timelines.
