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GLP-1s, ADCs, AI and the future of pharma

Pharma’s potential breakthroughs in AI, ADCs, and GLP-1 receptor agonists raise a critical question: can innovation outpace the relentless rise of chronic disease?

The IQVIA Institute for Human Data Science sheds light on this theme, among many others, in its 80-page Global Trends in R&D 2024 report.

Pillar 1: GLP-1 receptor agonists targeting metabolic disease

Speaking of next-gen metabolic therapies in particular, Murray Aitken, the executive director of the IQVIA Institute for Human Data Science, sees significant potential. Market projections for GLP-1 drugs are bullish, with some analysts projecting sales potentially hitting $100 billion by 2030. “It’s exciting because if the market for these drugs becomes as big as anticipated, it means they are truly being disruptive in a positive way to human health for hundreds of millions of people worldwide,” said Aitken

New metabolic therapies are sorely needed as the obesity epidem…

Beyond diabetes and obesity: Can GLP-1 therapies also transform chronic disease treatment?

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Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists like semaglutide and tirzepatide have cemented their status as two of the most successful drugs in recent memory. Recent projections have estimated that the drug class could fetch $44 billion by 2030 and $71 billion by 2032.

But GLP-1 sales could potentially reach greater heights as these therapies move beyond their established territories of diabetes and obesity and start tackling major conditions like chronic liver and kidney disease, Alzheimer’s disease, and heart failure.

Promising clinical trial results highlight the potential of GLP-1s in an array of disease, including chronic kidney disease, nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), various forms of heart failure and potentially even Alzheimer’s.

There are, however, hurdles, such as a relatively high rate of gastrointestinal (GI) side effects, which affect somewhere around 40–7…

Obalon Therapeutics’ stock skyrockets after announcing ReShape Lifesciences merger

Shares of intragastric balloon maker Obalon Therapeutics (NSDQ:OBLN) jumped as high as $10.71 today, or 568%, after the company announced a merger with ReShape Lifesciences (OTCMKTS:RSLS).

The San Diego-based company’s stock eventually closed at $9.52 per share, up 491%.

Obalon’s stock had closed at $1.61 yesterday.

ReShape Lifesciences also saw a substantial jump in its stock price. RSLS shares closed at $9.52 per share, up nearly 138%.

Obalon won FDA-approval for its gas-filled intragastric balloon system for obesity in 2016. It is currently the only company with such a product on the market in the U.S.

The merger with ReShape will allow the balloon system to become part of a portfolio of devices used to treat obesity and metabolic disease, including the Lap-Band adjustable gastric banding system and the ReShapeVest, which is an investigational device for treating obesity.

“We are excited with this opportunity to add Obalon’s …