STAT+: Pharmalittle: We’re reading about FDA’s Makary resigning, a Lilly weight loss drug trial, and more
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- Marty Makary is resigning as FDA Commissioner after an HHS group had been seeking his removal for months.
- Kyle Diamantas, the FDA’s top food regulator, will serve as acting commissioner following Makary’s departure.
- Eli Lilly reported that patients who switched from Novo Nordisk’s injectable Wegovy to its oral weight‑loss pill Foundayo regained an average of 2 lb after a year.
- Eli Lilly also disclosed that patients moving from its own injectable Zepbound to Foundayo regained about 11 lb, suggesting the oral formulation may be less effective after long‑term injectable use.
- Eli Lilly’s study, presented at an obesity conference, tracked patients after 72 weeks of weight loss on tirzepatide or semaglutide before transitioning to Foundayo.
Why it matters: Pharma companies awaiting faster FDA approvals face uncertainty as new leadership may shift review timelines, while Lilly’s modest oral‑pill results could dampen investor confidence and slow adoption of non‑injectable obesity treatments.
