STAT+: Pharmalittle: We’re reading about a Lilly weight loss trial, TrumpRx shortcomings, and more
Why it matters: New diabetes drug offers hope for weight loss, while TrumpRx struggles to deliver on promised lower prices.
- Eli Lilly's investigational drug, retatrutide, demonstrated a 1.9% reduction in HbA1C and a 15.3% weight loss in diabetic patients after 40 weeks, comparable to their popular drug Mounjaro.
- Retatrutide shows particular benefit for the 60% of adults with type 2 diabetes who are also obese, a demographic that typically doesn't experience significant weight loss with diabetes treatments.
- TrumpRx.gov is not consistently delivering lower drug prices than the UK, with Reuters finding that prices for about a third of the 54 drugs offered were lower in the UK, including common medications like Xeljanz and Farxiga.
- STAT News notes that Trump's Medicare director is trying to manage expectations for TrumpRx, suggesting the initiative's impact on drug pricing may be more limited than initially promoted.
Eli Lilly's investigational drug, retatrutide, shows significant promise for diabetes patients, achieving substantial reductions in blood sugar and weight, even for those with obesity, a group that typically struggles with weight loss on other treatments. Meanwhile, the TrumpRx.gov website, despite aiming for lower drug prices, often falls short compared to the UK's National Health Service, with Reuters reporting that a third of its listed drugs are cheaper overseas, a finding that tempers expectations for the initiative.
