Shares of Structure Therapeutics, a biotech startup, surged by over 30% following positive results from its experimental obesity pill in an early-stage trial. The once-daily drug helped overweight or obese participants lose an average of 10 pounds after four weeks of treatment. Structure plans to conduct two midstage trials to further test the pill as a treatment for diabetes and obesity. The pill belongs to the same class of drugs as Novo Nordisk’s Ozempic and Wegovy, which have gained popularity for their ability to aid weight loss by suppressing appetite. With the obesity drug industry projected to be a $100 billion global market by the end of the decade, Structure’s pill could potentially compete with oral obesity drugs from Eli Lilly, Pfizer, and Novo Nordisk.
Structure Therapeutics saw its shares rise significantly after its experimental obesity pill demonstrated success in an early-stage trial. Overweight or obese participants who took the once-daily pill lost an average of 10 pounds in just four weeks. The biotech startup now plans to conduct two longer midstage trials to assess the pill’s effectiveness in treating diabetes and obesity. The pill belongs to the same class of drugs as Novo Nordisk’s Ozempic and Wegovy, both of which have gained popularity for their weight loss benefits by mimicking a hormone that suppresses appetite. Analysts believe that the obesity drug industry could become a $100 billion global market by the end of the decade, and Structure’s pill has the potential to compete with other oral obesity drugs from Eli Lilly, Pfizer, and Novo Nordisk.
In the highly lucrative obesity drug industry, Structure Therapeutics’ experimental pill has shown promise, leading to a significant increase in the company’s shares. In the early-stage trial, overweight or obese individuals treated with the once-daily pill experienced an average weight loss of 10 pounds within just four weeks. As a result of the positive outcome, Structure intends to move forward with two longer midstage trials to evaluate the pill’s efficacy in treating both diabetes and obesity. Targeting the same class of drugs as Novo Nordisk’s Ozempic and Wegovy, which are known for their appetite-suppressing properties, Structure’s pill presents itself as a potential competitor. With analysts predicting that the obesity drug industry could reach a staggering $100 billion on a global scale by the end of the decade, the introduction of more convenient and affordable pill versions, such as Structure’s, could enhance patient access and enlarge the market for obesity drugs.