Nxera doubles down on obesity drugs as Pfizer, Novo and Terns exit GLP-1 candidates

On the same day Pfizer, Novo Nordisk and Terns scrapped GLP-1 drugs, Nxera Pharma announced a bold new pipeline of seven obesity-focused therapies, headlined by a proprietary oral GLP-1 agonist.

Backstory: Nxera, formerly Sosei Heptares, helped pioneer GLP-1 receptor structure mapping and had co-developed the now-discontinued PF-06954522 with Pfizer. The candidate was pulled due to portfolio priorities, not safety, following Pfizer’s prior GLP-1 setbacks tied to liver issues. Pfizer now relies on a single phase 2 GIPR antagonist and is exploring external opportunities to rebuild its position in the competitive obesity market.

Zoom in: Nxera’s new obesity program is independent of its prior collaborations with Pfizer and Eli Lilly. It includes GLP-1, GIP, Apelin, and Amylin receptor agonists, a GIP antagonist, and two undisclosed long-acting treatments.

Big picture: Pfizer is not the only big pharma to trim its obesity portfolio, as Novo Nordisk also dropped multiple obesity and metabolic disease drug candidates as part of a major pipeline overhaul linked to underwhelming obesity drug sales and executive departures.

• Despite positive phase 2 weight-loss results, the GLP-1/GIP co-agonist NNC0519-0130 was discontinued due to “portfolio considerations,” alongside the CB1 receptor blocker INV-347, which was safe but had unfavorable pharmacokinetics.

• Additionally, the development of zalfermin for liver fibrosis was halted after limited efficacy. The drug ANGPTL3i for dyslipidemia was also shelved due to strategic reprioritization.

Not the only ones: Terns Pharmaceuticals also announced it will cease funding clinical development of its metabolic disease programs by the end of 2025, shifting focus to its oncology asset, TERN-701, for chronic myeloid leukemia.

• The company plans to seek partners for its metabolic pipeline, which includes TERN-601, an oral GLP-1 receptor agonist in a phase 2 obesity trial, and two earlier-stage candidates: TERN-501 for NASH and the TERN-800 series targeting GIPR.

Yes, but: Citing the high costs and competitive landscape in obesity treatment, Terns believes larger pharmaceutical partners are better positioned to advance these programs through late-stage development and commercialization. Of course, this assumes that they stop abandoning their own pipelines first!