Healthy Returns: Chinese obesity drug emerges as a potential rival to Eli Lilly’s Zepbound
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An obesity drug from Hengrui Pharma and Kailera Therapeutics succeeded in a late-stage trial in China, while Anne Wojcicki's nonprofit acquires 23andMe.
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6 min read
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investment
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July 16, 2025
05:19 PM
CNBC
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From an analytical perspective, What's fascinating this is Cr | Istock | Getty ImagesA version of this article first appeared in CNBC's Healthy Returns, which brings the health-care news straight to your inbox
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Another potential competitor to blockbuster obesity treatments from Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk just showed positive data – but this time, it's from China
Additionally, An experimental weekly injection developed by Chinese drugmaker Hengrui Pharma and its U (an important development), in this volatile climate. -based partner, Kailera Therapeutics, succeeded in a late-stage trial in China, putting the drugmakers on track to seek apval there
Kailera is among several companies, such as Merck, Novo Nordisk and Regeneron, that have tapped the Chinese market in of a drug that could win a slice of the booming weight loss drug market
In May 2024, Kailera licensed rights outside of the Greater China region to multiple experimental drugs from Hengrui in return for more than $100 million in upfront and near-term payments, a 20% equity stake and nearly $6 billion in future milestones
Here's how the drug, dubbed HRS9531, performed in the trial: It helped patients lose nearly 18% of their body weight on average after 48 weeks, which is more than 16% greater weight loss than those on a placebo saw (fascinating analysis)
Almost 9 in 10 people who received the injection lost at least 5% of their body weight, and 44. 4% of patients achieved at least 20% weight loss, according to a release from the companies
Moreover, Nevertheless, There was no plateau in weight loss at 48 weeks, in today's market environment
The companies didn't disclose specific safety data or how well patients tolerated the drug, only saying those results were consistent with previous data on the treatment and other GLP-1s
Most adverse events from the injection were gastrointestinal-related and mild to moderate in severity, the companies said
Hengrui will file an apval application for the drug in China (something worth watching), in today's financial world
Meanwhile, Kailera will start global studies that use higher doses and keep patients on the treatment for longer, the startup's CEO Ron Renaud said in the release
It will ly still take several years before HRS9531 enters the market, particularly in the U
Additionally, Furthermore, And other nations outside of China
But the drug's results appear to be mising, and position it as a potential competitor to Eli Lilly's weekly weight loss injection Zepbound (which is quite significant), considering recent developments
Both drugs work by activating two naturally duced hormones in the body: glucagon- peptide-1, known as GLP-1, and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide, or GIP (which is quite significant), in this volatile climate
The combination is said to slow the emptying of the stomach, making people feel full for longer and suppressing appetite by slowing hunger signals in the brain, amid market uncertainty
Across two phase three trials enrolling roughly 3,000 adults with obesity or Type 2 diabetes, Zepbound helped patients lose an average of up to 21% of their body weight over 72 weeks
Meanwhile, It's difficult to directly compare results from different clinical trials, especially since the results on HRS9531 were only from more than 500 patients
But the drug still achieved significant weight loss over 48 weeks, raising hopes its potential over a longer period of time (noteworthy indeed)
Meanwhile, Novo Nordisk's weekly injection Wegovy only targets GLP-1
Nevertheless, Feel free to send any tips, suggestions, story ideas and data to Annika at annikakim, in today's market environment
However, Constantino@nbcuni (something worth watching)
However, In health-care : 23andMe co-founder Wojcicki's nonfit acquires genetic testing companyAnne Wojcicki, co-founder and chief executive officer of 23andme Inc. , during the South by Southwest (SXSW) festival in Austin, Texas, US, on Friday, March 10, 2023
Jordan Vonderhaar | Bloomberg | Getty ImagesWell folks, after a long saga, Anne Wojcicki has officially regained control of the embattled genetic testing company 23andMe
Furthermore, Wojcicki co-founded 23andMe and served as CEO until the company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy tection in March
Nevertheless, Her new nonfit, TTAM Re Institute, has its acquisition of the Personal Genome Service and Re Services lines of 23andMe, the company announced on Monday. "As part of TTAM, 23andMe is continuing to operate and vide customers with personalized DNA testing and re services," the company said in a release. "TTAM is committed to viding customers with choice and transparency with their data, including the option to change their decision on whether to participate in re
However, "TTAM is an acronym for the first letters of 23andMe, according to The Wall Street Journal
Additionally, 23andMe rocketed into the main with at- DNA testing kits that gave customers insight into their family histories and genetic files
Nevertheless, But the five-time CNBC Disruptor 50 company struggled to generate recurring revenue and stand up viable re and therapeutics es after going public
When it became that 23andMe's financials were shaky, Wojcicki submitted several posals to take the company private while she was still its chief executive
Those plans were unsuccessful, and she ultimately had to compete against other spective buyers in a bankruptcy auction, in light of current trends
And, of course, there were some unexpected twists
In May, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals announced it would purchase most of 23andMe's assets for $256 million after it came out on top during the bankruptcy auction
But Wojcicki submitted a separate $305 million bid through TTAM and pushed to reopen the auction (something worth watching)
A month later, she did just that, and TTAM announced that it had successfully outbid Regeneron
Nevertheless, "I am thrilled that TTAM Re Institute will be able to continue the mission of 23andMe to help people access, understand and benefit from the human genome," Wojcicki said in a June statement (which is quite significant)
Feel free to send any tips, suggestions, story ideas and data to Ashley at ashley
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