Clinical roundup: Data for Lilly’s tirzepatide, GSK’s Blenrep, 4D, Vertex and more

A readout showing that tirzepatide from Eli Lilly and Co. (NYSE:LLY) met the primary endpoint in a Phase II trial to treat metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) led to a market reaction that penalized smaller biotech competitors. The dual GIP/GLP-1R agonist is already a blockbuster: now marketed as Mounjaro and Zepbound to treat diabetes and obesity, tirzepatide generated nearly $2.4 billion in 4Q23 sales.

Compared with placebo, all three of the study’s doses of tirzepatide led to significantly more patients with absence of MASH and no worsening of fibrosis, with up to 74% of participants achieving the endpoint at week 52. ...