Metsera Obesity Drug Shows 14% Weight Loss in Key Trial
Positive Phase 2b data for MET-097i reveals competitive efficacy and best-in-class tolerability, bolstering Pfizer's entry into the weight-loss market.
Metsera is positioning itself as a formidable new competitor in the booming obesity drug market after announcing its experimental treatment, MET-097i, led to significant weight loss in a mid-stage clinical trial, validating its recent acquisition by Pfizer.
The company from its Phase 2b study, showing that patients receiving the highest dose of the GLP-1 drug achieved a mean placebo-adjusted weight loss of up to 14.1% after 28 weeks. The results immediately place Metsera's candidate in contention with established market leaders from Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly, which currently dominate the sector.
Beyond the compelling efficacy, the drug demonstrated what the company described as a "potentially best-in-class tolerability" profile. At the most effective dose, only 13% of participants experienced nausea and 11% experienced vomiting, with minimal discontinuation rates. This favorable side-effect profile could be a key differentiator in a market where patient comfort is a significant factor for long-term adherence.
The most significant strategic advantage for MET-097i may be its potential as a monthly injectable. Current blockbuster treatments like Wegovy and Zepbound require weekly injections, creating a demand for more convenient, less frequent dosing. Metsera's ultra-long-acting formulation directly addresses this unmet need, a feature Pfizer is counting on as it challenges the market incumbents.
This data provides the first major clinical validation since in a deal worth up to $7.3 billion, marking a significant strategic entry into a market that analysts project will . Armed with these encouraging results, Metsera plans to advance MET-097i into pivotal Phase 3 trials in late 2025, setting the stage for a new battle in the rapidly evolving and highly lucrative landscape of weight-loss therapies.