Clinical Report: Shionogi mulls next steps after underwhelming obesity readout

A disappointing clinical outcome for Shionogi’s obesity candidate shaved 13% from its stock price Friday, although the pharma is considering combination approaches that could still give the therapy some value in the evolving space.

During last week’s R&D Day presentation by Shionogi & Co. Ltd. (Tokyo:4507), the company revealed top-line data from a Phase II study showing that MOGAT2 inhibitor S-309309 as monotherapy led to weight loss of less than 5% at 24 weeks, the primary endpoint, among patients with a body-mass index of 30 or higher. The result fell short of Shionogi’s bar for advancing the treatment as a single agent; it had hoped to see an 8-10% weight reduction...