Novo Nordisk (NYSE: NVO), a Danish pharmaceutical company, has reported Phase IIa trial results for monlunabant, an oral small-molecule cannabinoid receptor 1 (CB1) inverse agonist being developed for the treatment of obesity. The trial data, which showed statistically significant weight loss across all tested doses compared to placebo, did not sit well with investors, leading to a more than 4% drop in Novo’s share price in a single day.
In the trial, monlunabant was evaluated in three different dosages: 10mg, 20mg, and 50mg, against a placebo control group. The 10mg dose of monlunabant resulted in a weight loss of 7.1 kg after 16 weeks, compared to a 0.7 kg reduction with the placebo. This translates to approximately a 6.5% weight loss, which may be perceived as less impressive by investors when compared to the weight loss results of the blockbuster drug Wegovy (semaglutide), which can achieve an 8% weight loss over 16 weeks and up to 15% over 12 months. Monlunabant’s adverse events were reported as mild to moderate, including gastrointestinal and neuropsychiatric issues.
Novo Nordisk has indicated that additional trials are necessary to determine the optimal dosage for monlunabant, with plans for a larger Phase IIb trial anticipated to commence in 2025.- Flcube.com
