Amgen's MariTide Faces Tough Weight Loss Competition

Amgen's experimental obesity drug, MariTide, demonstrated promising results in a Phase 2 trial with patients losing an average of 20% of their weight over a year, without a plateau, indicating potential for further weight loss. Despite these results, Amgen's shares fell as analysts had higher expectations, partly due to strong competition from Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly, whose drugs show similar efficacy. Concerns were raised about patient withdrawal rates, although Amgen noted fewer serious side effects like nausea and vomiting compared to existing treatments. MariTide is administered monthly, providing a more convenient option than the weekly injections of current competitors. Amgen plans to advance to a Phase 3 trial and present detailed results at a future medical congress. The company's stock reaction highlights the competitive nature of the obesity treatment market, where expectations for new entrants are particularly high.