The Gut Punch Weekly #14
Americans are snacking less, Novo bets $1B on new drug, Rybelsus' cardiovascular impacts are mixed, Danone adapts marketing strategy for the GLP-1 era, and more!
Top Stories
1) Americans Are Snacking Less, Puzzling Food Companies
Snacking, once the fastest-growing category in packaged foods, is experiencing a decline, with major companies like PepsiCo's Frito-Lay reporting annual sales drops.
This trend may be due to a combination of factors, including consumer strain from price hikes, a shift towards healthier options, and potentially the rise of weight-loss drugs like GLP-1s.
The snacking industry's slowdown coincides with a slight decrease in America's obesity rate and increased consumer concern about processed foods.
Food companies are adapting by acquiring brands that offer healthier alternatives, such as high-protein snacks and grain-free options, to align with changing consumer preferences.
(WSJ)
2) Novo Nordisk Bets $1B on Lexicon's Obesity Drug
Lexicon Pharmaceuticals has partnered with Novo Nordisk in a deal worth up to $1 billion for its preclinical obesity drug LX9851.
The ACSL5 inhibitor showed promise in animal studies for reducing body fat while preserving muscle mass, a key goal in obesity treatment.
The partnership includes $75 million in upfront and near-term payments, with Novo taking over responsibility for clinical development, manufacturing, and commercialization.
Preclinical data showed LX9851 enhanced the effects of Novo's semaglutide and helped maintain weight loss after GLP-1 discontinuation.
Lexicon believes LX9851 has potential as both a monotherapy and combination treatment, with opportunities in obesity, metabolic syndrome, and liver diseases.
3) Mixed Results for Semaglutide's Cardiovascular Benefits
Novo Nordisk presented mixed cardiovascular data for its GLP-1 therapy semaglutide, with oral Rybelsus showing significant reduction in major adverse cardiovascular events but inconsistent benefits across individual outcomes.
The SOUL trial demonstrated a decrease in nonfatal myocardial infarction, but no significant impact on cardiovascular death or nonfatal stroke.
Novo Nordisk has submitted an FDA application to expand Rybelsus's label to include cardiovascular benefits for Type 2 diabetes patients with cardiovascular or chronic kidney diseases.
(Biospace)
3) Danone Adapts Marketing Strategy for GLP-1 Era
Danone is adapting its marketing strategy to address the growing demand for protein-rich, nutrient-dense foods driven by the widespread adoption of GLP-1 weight loss medications.
To reach consumers interested in GLP-1-compatible diets, Danone has experimented with targeted advertising on platforms like Pinterest and retail media networks as well as with technologies like AI to enhance marketing campaigns.
The company is leveraging its health-focused portfolio, including brands such as Oikos and Silk, to meet evolving consumer needs for nutrient-dense foods.
The company has also launched a GLP-1 nutrition hub on its website and partnered with healthcare professionals to provide science-backed nutritional information to consumers on their weight loss journeys.
GLP-1 Industry Intel
Eli Lilly Takes Legal Action Against Drug Compounders: Eli Lilly has filed lawsuits against compounding pharmacies Strive and Empower for allegedly producing and marketing unauthorized versions of its drugs Zepbound and Mounjaro, marking the first major legal test since FDA shortage listings ended.
Compounded Semaglutide Takes 40% Market Share From Novo: Novo Nordisk CEO Lars Fruergaard Jorgensen warns that unauthorized compounded versions of semaglutide are harming the company's weight loss business and have taken 40% of the semaglutide market.
Noom Partners with LillyDirect for Zepbound Access: In a post-compounding-ban pivot, Noom announced a partnership with Eli Lilly's LillyDirect pharmacy provider, Gifthealth, to streamline access to Zepbound vials for members with prescriptions through their integrated platform.
Weight Loss Drug Shows Strong Heart Benefits: A new real-world analysis shows semaglutide 2.4 mg reduced major adverse cardiovascular events by 57% compared to non-users in patients with obesity or overweight.
AI Supercomputer Powers Novo's Hunt for New Drugs: Novo Nordisk's blockbuster weight-loss drugs generated $26 billion in sales last year, fueling unprecedented growth in Denmark and spurring investments in AI-powered drug development to quickly identify the next blockbuster drug.
Oral GLP-1s Could Simplify Weight Loss Drug Manufacturing: While injectable GLP-1 drugs require complex sterile manufacturing processes, upcoming oral versions promise easier production and scaling capabilities, potentially opening the market beyond the current Novo-Lilly duopoly.
Food & Wellness Industry Intel
Low Vitamin D May Compromise Children's Gut Barrier: New research reveals vitamin D's crucial role in maintaining gut health by strengthening the intestinal barrier and preventing inflammation that could lead to various chronic diseases.
GLP-1 Users Drive Demand for High-Protein Frozen Foods: A new NFRA study reveals that GLP-1 medication users are driving increased demand for high-protein, portion-controlled frozen foods, with 78% reporting eating smaller portions and 46% prioritizing high-protein options.
Health Coaching Improves GLP-1 Weight Loss Success: Research suggests that combining health coaching with GLP-1 medications enhances weight loss success by improving medication adherence and helping patients maintain healthy lifestyle changes.
Frontline Focus
Cigna CEO Questions Benefits of GLP-1 Drugs, Warns Against Coverage: Cigna's CEO expressed skepticism for insurers covering GLP-1 drugs, citing high discontinuation rates and potential health risks from muscle mass loss.
Ozempic's Impact on Brain Reward System: GLP-1 drugs appear to reduce food cravings by affecting the brain's reward system through the vagus nerve and specific brain regions, though their impact on other addictive behaviors remains unclear.
GLP-1 Drugs Spark Concerns Over Health Inequality: While GLP-1 drugs offer promising solutions for obesity treatment, their high costs create accessibility barriers that may deepen social inequalities and reshape cultural attitudes toward weight, body image, and food consumption.
GLP-1 Drug Spending Tripled for Non-Diabetics: A CDC survey shows that GLP-1 receptor agonist use among non-diabetic adults in the U.S. more than tripled from 2018 to 2022, increasing from $1.6 billion to $5.8 billion in sales.
Exercise Critical When Taking Weight-Loss Drugs to Prevent Muscle Loss: While GLP-1 drugs effectively reduce weight through appetite suppression, studies indicate up to 40% of weight loss comes from muscle mass, making exercise essential for maintaining strength and preventing weight regain.
GLP-1 Clinical Insights
Semaglutide Improves Walking Distance in Artery Disease: A phase 3b trial found that weekly semaglutide injections significantly improved walking distance in patients with peripheral artery disease and type 2 diabetes.
Novel Tri-Agonist Demonstrates Significant Weight Reduction: Researchers found NN1706, a tri-agonist targeting GLP-1R/GIPR/GcgR receptors, achieved substantial weight loss in trials but raised cardiovascular safety concerns.
New Obesity Treatment Combines MC4R with GLP-1: Palatin's new obesity treatment combining bremelanotide with tirzepatide demonstrated synergistic effects and stopped post-treatment weight regain in Phase 2 trials.
Semaglutide Reduces Cardiovascular Events in Diabetes Patients: Research shows oral semaglutide effectively reduces cardiovascular events in type 2 diabetes patients with existing cardiovascular or kidney disease without increasing serious adverse events.
Dopamine Neurons Drive Pleasure-Based Food Consumption: Researchers discovered that dopamine neurons in the ventral tegmental area control hedonic by responding to food palatability and opposing the appetite-suppressing effects of anti-obesity medications.
Metabolic Decline Drives Age-Related Cognitive Issues: A new data-driven modeling study suggests that addressing metabolic decline, particularly through astrocyte-neuron interactions, could be key to preventing age-related cognitive deterioration and promoting healthy brain aging.
The Bleeding Edge
AI-Designed Peptides Outperform Semaglutide in Study: Researchers have developed an AI-driven approach that within two weeks successfully designed novel GLP-1 receptor agonists with triple the half-life of Semaglutide and superior therapeutic efficacy.
Bacterial Enzymes Improve Non-Invasive Peptide Drug Delivery: A new study shows that specific bacterial enzymes can be harnessed to overcome biological barriers and enhance non-invasive peptide drug delivery, potentially leading to more patient-friendly treatment options.
New Research Links Semaglutide to Improved Cognitive Function: A new study reveals semaglutide improves cognitive function and reduces neuroinflammation in Alzheimer's disease mouse models by activating AMPK and inhibiting the TLR4/NF-κB pathway.