Structure shares surge on obesity pill data

03 Jun 2024
firstwordpharma.com
Phase 2Clinical Result
Structure Therapeutics saw its shares soar by over 71% on Monday after new clinical study data suggested the company could successfully enter the anti-obesity market with a once-daily pill, providing a highly sought-after alternative to injectable treatments already on the market.
"These topline results demonstrate the substantial weight loss effect of GSBR-1290 and its potential to become a best-in-class oral small molecule GLP-1 receptor agonistGLP-1 receptor agonist," remarked CEO Raymond Stevens, adding that a "competitive treatment effect" was seen at 12 weeks.
In a Phase IIa obesity study, GSBR-1290 demonstrated a statistically significant placebo-adjusted mean weight loss of 6.2%. At week 12, Structure said 67% of GSBR-1290-treated patients achieved at least 6% weight loss, and one-third lost 10% or more of their body weight, compared to 0% for placebo.
A separate capsule-to-tablet pharmacokinetic (PK) study assessed a new tablet formulation intended for future studies. This 12-week trial showed a placebo-adjusted mean weight loss of up to 6.9% with the GSBR-1290 tablet.
Comparable to Lilly's oral contender
Commenting on the results, Leerink Partners analyst David Risinger said "GSBR-1290 delivers compelling obesity efficacy and looks comparable to Eli Lilly's experimental weight-loss pill orforglipron, based on the results after three months of treatment."
Lilly, which already sells the dual GIP/GLP-1 agonistGIP/GLP-1 agonist tirzepatide under the name Zepbound as a treatment for obesity, is developing the oral GLP-1 drug orforglipron, which resulted in up to 14.7% mean weight reduction after six months in a Phase II study released last year. See – Vital Signs: Dissecting the oral obesity pipeline.
Structure's shares took a hit after an earlier readout last December. Despite achieving significant results on measures of HbA1c and weight reduction compared to placebo, analysts and investors felt GSBR-1290 wasn't quite measuring up to orforglipron.
Longer Phase IIb study in Q4
Meanwhile, across both studies reported Monday, GSBR-1290 demonstrated generally favourable safety and tolerability following daily dosing up to 120mg. The most common adverse events were gastrointestinal-related, namely nausea and vomiting, which are expected for the GLP-1 class. These events were typically observed early in treatment and lessened after dose titration, the company said.
Study discontinuations due to adverse events ranged from 5% in the Phase IIa obesity study to 11% in the capsule-to-tablet PK study. No cases of drug-induced liver injury or persistent enzyme elevations occurred.
Structure said a 36-week Phase IIb study in obesity is on track to begin in the fourth quarter. The trial is expected to use the tablet formulation of GSBR-1290 and include approximately 300 participants.
For a glimpse of other studies we're keeping our eye on, see – Vital Signs: Key obesity readouts of 2024.
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