AstraZeneca sees progress in obesity drug trials, highlights new oral option

AstraZeneca (LSE: AZN) has presented early results on three experimental weight-loss drugs at the ObesityWeek conference in San Antonio, showing encouraging signs for its obesity pipeline.

Among the treatments, an oral GLP-1 agonist, AZD5004, showed promise in a Phase I study, enabling type-2 diabetes patients to lose an average of 5.8% of body weight over four weeks.

Despite reports of dose-related nausea and vomiting, which are common side effects in this drug category, AstraZeneca noted that no participants left the trial due to these symptoms. Based on the initial findings, the pharma major is advancing AZD5004 into two Phase IIb studies, indicating a strong commitment to establishing a foothold in the competitive obesity market.