Pfizer Ends Development of Danuglipron Over Safety Concerns

The decision follows a clinical trial participant's liver injury, with Pfizer shifting focus to alternative obesity treatments.

Pfizer has discontinued its once-daily oral weight-loss pill, danuglipron, after a trial participant experienced a potential drug-induced liver injury that resolved post-treatment.
The company previously abandoned a twice-daily version of the drug in late 2023 due to high dropout rates and adverse side effects like nausea and vomiting.
Clinical trials showed danuglipron met key pharmacokinetic goals, with liver enzyme elevations comparable to other approved GLP-1 drugs, but safety concerns ultimately led to its discontinuation.
Pfizer plans to focus on other obesity treatment candidates, including an oral drug targeting the GIPR pathway and additional early-stage programs.
The competitive obesity drug market, dominated by Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly's injectable treatments, is projected to surpass $100 billion in value by 2030.