Terns Pharmaceuticals' oral obesity drug cuts weight by 4.9% in early study (updated)

Terns Pharmaceuticals

09/09/2024 12:37

(Adds shares in paragraph 1, details throughout)
       Sept 9 (Reuters) - Terns Pharmaceuticals  TERN.O  said
on Monday its oral obesity drug helped to reduce weight by an
average of 4.9% in an early stage study, sending its shares
surging 31% in premarket trading.
    The experimental drug, TERN-601, which belongs to the
popular GLP-1 class, also met the main goals of safety and
tolerability in the study, the company said.
    Market leaders Wegovy from Novo Nordisk  NOVOb.CO  and
Zepbound from Eli Lilly  LLY.N  are injectable drugs. The two
companies are also developing oral treatments for weight loss.
    A 740-milligram dosage of the once-daily drug led to an
average weight loss of 4.9%, when adjusted for placebo rates,
after 28 days of treatment.
    The company said it plans to advance the drug into mid-stage
trials next year.

 (Reporting by Mariam Sunny in Bengaluru; Editing by Shilpi
Majumdar)
 ((Mariam.ESunny@thomsonreuters.com))