Terns Shares Rise on GLP-1 Pill Showing 5% Weight Loss in 28 Days

Terns Pharmaceuticals is set to advance its oral GLP-1R agonist, TERN-601, to Phase II clinical trials following promising early-stage data indicating significant weight loss. The company's shares surged by over 18% after the announcement, reflecting investor optimism.

In an early-stage trial, patients who were either obese or overweight experienced an average weight loss of nearly 5% after 28 days of treatment with TERN-601, compared to a placebo. This result positions TERN-601 favorably against other oral weight loss medications under development, such as Eli Lilly’s orforglipron and Pfizer’s danuglipron, which have shown weight loss of 3.9% and 5.2% respectively in similar studies.

The Phase I trial of TERN-601 included adults with obesity or overweight conditions, and the highest dose group achieved a 4.9% average weight loss adjusted for placebo effects. Notably, 67% of participants in this high-dose group experienced a reduction of at least 5% of their baseline body weight. Terns Pharmaceuticals highlighted these outcomes in a press release, underscoring the potential of TERN-601 as a leading candidate in the GLP-1R agonist class.

CEO Amy Burroughs expressed enthusiasm about the results, mentioning the company's readiness to progress TERN-601 into Phase II clinical development by 2025. The drug was also noted for its favorable safety profile, with no treatment-related interruptions, dose reductions, or discontinuations reported. Gastrointestinal side effects were mild to moderate and consistent with those seen in the broader category of GLP-1R agonists. Additionally, no significant changes in liver enzyme levels were observed.

Burroughs emphasized the potential of TERN-601, citing its efficacy, tolerability, and scalability in manufacturing. These attributes could make TERN-601 a standout in the competitive landscape of oral weight loss therapies. The fact that TERN-601 requires only once-daily dosing gives it an advantage over some competitors, such as Pfizer’s danuglipron, which initially required twice-daily dosing but was later adjusted to once-daily due to high discontinuation rates.

Analysts at BMO Capital Markets described the trial data as "compelling" and suggested that TERN-601's profile supports its use as a monotherapy or in combination with other treatments. They pointed out that Terns might explore combinations with other pipeline products like TERN-501 or TERN-800.

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