Remember $LXRX?
Yesterday an important update arrived
A huge development behind the scenes for $LXRX?
Novo Nordisk and Lexicon are getting started - first clinical phase for the innovative obesity drug:
Pharmaceutical giant Novo Nordisk moves to the practical phase with the start of the first clinical phase of the drug LX9851.
This is a breakthrough treatment in the first-in-class category intended for obesity treatment and administered orally.
Unlike currently known drugs that act on the incretin mechanism, this drug offers a completely different approach.
The current trial is expected to include 96 patients dealing with overweight or obesity, with the target for completing this phase set for Q1 2027.
The technology behind the drug is based on inhibiting the enzyme that regulates fat accumulation in the body and energy metabolism.
In addition, it acts on the "ileal brake", which delays gastric emptying, thereby suppressing appetite and significantly increasing the feeling of satiety in patients.
In the pre-clinical tests conducted, the results were very encouraging, as an increased effect on weight reduction was observed.
One of the prominent advantages is the ability to inhibit renewed weight gain after discontinuing treatment, alongside an improvement in fatty liver indices, which constitutes a significant medical advantage.
From a business perspective, Lexicon granted Novo Nordisk an exclusive global license as part of a contract signed in 2025.
The total deal value may reach up to $1 billion plus upfront payments and milestones along the way.
The current transition to the clinical phase already guarantees a second milestone payment of $10 million; in the future there is a possibility of receiving an additional $10 million in addition to royalties from sales if the drug reaches the market.
The potential of LX9851 as a next-generation treatment (assuming it delivers) is significant,
and the combination of oral administration together with a unique mechanism of action creates clear differentiation points against competitors
which allows for expanding the market for combined treatments and especially for long-term maintenance treatments that will prevent the well-known "yo-yo" effect in weight loss.
We are monitoring