Biotech with ‘promising’ weight-loss drug acquired by Ozempic maker

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Danish pharma giant Novo Nordisk AS is acquiring Montreal-based biotech company Inversago Pharma, and with it, Inversago’s new weight loss drug, INV-202, geared toward individuals dealing with obesity and metabolic disorders such as diabetes.

While Inversago’s drug is still in the trial phase, a 37 person study released in June showed that INV-202 was safe and effective, with participants experiencing 3.3 per cent weight loss.

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Novo, which said in an Aug. 10 press release that the deal could be worth as much as US$1.08 billion in cash if certain development and commercial milestones are reached, will add INV-202 to a roster of blockbuster weight-loss medications that includes Ozempic and Wegovy. Following its 2017 approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Ozempic became so popular that consumers snapped up the available supply, leading to global shortages. Then came Wegovy in 2021, a higher-dose version of Ozempic that spurred buzz on social media, with celebrities such as Elon Musk touting its benefits.

In Canada, where 26.8 per cent of people are considered obese, monthly doses of Ozempic cost $250 while Wegovy is closer to $500-800.

Both Ozempic and Wegovy are injectable drugs that work by mimicking a hormone that controls blood sugar and suppresses appetite: glucagon-like peptide 1, or GLP-1. Inversago’s drug works a bit differently, though. The drug, which comes in tablet form, suppresses appetite while increasing metabolism and energy expenditure. It works by binding to cannabinoid type 1 receptors in peripheral tissues in the lungs, pancreas, kidneys and liver. (CB1 receptors regulate appetite and body weight, along with other functions.)

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“This promising class of medicine pioneered by the Inversago team could lead to life-changing new treatment options for those living with a serious chronic disease,” said Martin Holst Lange, executive vice-president for development at Novo Nordisk, in a press release. He added that the drug could serve as an alternative treatment option for people dealing with diabetes, or could complement the medications or treatments a patient is already exploring.

Not everyone is as enthusiastic about weight loss drugs. Some believe the medications constitute a setback for the fat-acceptance movement, as they communicate the message that thin equals healthy, which is not always the case. These drugs merely reinforce society’s dangerous obsession with thinness, critics say.

Others argue that the drugs shed positive light on how we view obesity. The drugs act on hormones, demonstrating that obesity is actually a hormonal issue, rather than a personal choice requiring motivation to resolve, critics note.

Ultimately, it will be up to consumers and their doctors to decide whether Inversago’s therapy is the right course of treatment.

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Novo Nordisk has the research facilities, global reach, and culture needed to bring INV-202 to market, said François Ravenelle, chief executive of Inversago, in an Aug. 10 press release. “We believe this combination will help unlock the full medical potential of our CB1 blockers and may one day expand treatment options for people living with metabolic syndrome, obesity and related complications,’’ he said.

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