Amgen Challenges Novo Nordisk's Ozempic And Eli Lilly's Zepbound As Its Monthly Weight Loss Drug MariTide Enters Two Late-Stage Trials

Amgen Inc. (NASDAQ:AMGN) has kicked off two crucial phase three trials for MariTide, its investigational weight loss injection. This move marks a significant step in the company’s pursuit to break into the growing market for obesity drugs.

The initial trial in the new phase three series will evaluate MariTide in approximately 3,500 individuals with obesity or those who are overweight but do not have Type 2 diabetes. The second trial will evaluate MariTide in 999 patients who are obese or overweight and have Type 2 diabetes. Both studies are primarily focussed to measure the percentage of weight loss over 72 weeks.

In November, Amgen revealed that MariTide enabled obesity patients to lose an average of up to 20% of their weight over a year in a phase two trial, without reaching a weight loss plateau. However, these results did not meet Wall Street’s lofty expectations for the drug. Amgen is set to release additional information on MariTide this year.

SEE ALSO: Jim Cramer Doubles Down On CrowdStrike Despite Drop: ‘Analysts Who Were So Negative…Had It Wrong’

Image via Shutterstock

Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

Market News and Data brought to you by Benzinga APIs

To add Benzinga News as your preferred source on Google, click here.