Pfizer Halts Development of Danuglipron After Liver Safety Concerns

The pharmaceutical giant shifts focus to early-stage obesity treatments following the latest setback in its weight-loss drug pipeline.

Pfizer has ceased the development of its once-daily weight-loss drug candidate, Danuglipron, after a clinical trial revealed potential drug-induced liver damage in a patient.
This marks the second time Pfizer has halted a version of Danuglipron, following the earlier abandonment of a twice-daily formulation due to severe gastrointestinal side effects like nausea and vomiting.
The company had previously discontinued another oral obesity drug candidate over similar liver safety concerns, highlighting recurring challenges in its obesity drug development efforts.
The decision underscores Pfizer's strategic pivot away from late-stage obesity drug candidates to focus on early-stage treatments in the highly competitive obesity market.
The setback weakens Pfizer's position against rivals Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly, whose obesity drugs have seen significant commercial success.