Zealand Pharma to Launch Phase 2b Obesity Trial in 2024

Danish biotech firm Zealand Pharma has publicized its intent to start a phase 2b clinical trial for petrelintide, their prospective treatment for obesity, in the final quarter of 2024. Chief Executive Officer Adam Steensberg expressed excitement about advancing this significant project and mentioned that the company is actively seeking partnerships to facilitate its progress.

The planned clinical trials will involve patients who are overweight or obese but do not have type 2 diabetes. According to Zealand Pharma, they aim to commence these trials in late 2024 and hope to complete patient enrollment by the first half of 2025. Additionally, the company plans to launch another phase 2b clinical trial in the early months of 2025, this time including participants who have type 2 diabetes, to further establish the safety and effectiveness of petrelintide for this particular group.

Zealand Pharma's forthcoming trials are significant steps in their efforts to develop a viable treatment for obesity, targeting a broader patient population by incorporating individuals with and without type 2 diabetes. The completion of patient enrollment for the trials focused on non-diabetic participants by mid-2025 illustrates the company's commitment to timely progression. The subsequent trial for those with type 2 diabetes underscores their comprehensive approach to assessing petrelintide's potential benefits.

Both trials represent critical phases in the drug's development, aiming to confirm its safety and effectiveness in different patient demographics. The biotech company is keen on moving forward swiftly and efficiently, leveraging potential collaborations to ensure the trials' success and eventual market introduction of petrelintide. These efforts align with Zealand Pharma's broader mission to address unmet medical needs in the field of obesity treatment.