Peptide News Digest

#Cardiovascular-Outcomes

3 stories

Clinical Trials · View digest

AstraZeneca (NYSE: AZN) Reports Q2 2026 Earnings Before Market Open Monday July 27, 2026 With Core EPS of $2.63 (+18% Constant Currency, Beating $2.48 Consensus) on Revenue of $15.38 Billion (+5%, In Line With $15.39 Billion Consensus) and Advances Elecoglipron (Oral Small-Molecule GLP-1 Receptor Agonist) Into the Full Phase 3 Program in Q2 Across the EMBOLD Obesity Trials, the ELUMINATE Type 2 Diabetes Trials (Including Monotherapy and Combination With Dapagliflozin), and Cardiovascular and Kidney Outcome Trials Positioning AstraZeneca to Challenge Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly in the Oral GLP-1 Market Alongside the Positive Q2 Update on Tozorakimab (Peak Sales Now Projected Above $5 Billion, Raised From $3 Billion)

AstraZeneca (NYSE: AZN) reported Q2 2026 earnings before market open Monday July 27, 2026 with core earnings per share of $2.63 for the three months ended June 30 (+18% constant currency), beating consensus of $2.48. Revenue of $15.38 billion was in line with consensus of $15.39 billion (+5%). Analyst focus on the earnings call centered on the pipeline update: elecoglipron, the oral small-molecule GLP-1 receptor agonist AstraZeneca in-licensed and advanced through Phase 2 VISTA and SOLSTICE (positive data at ADA 2026 Scientific Sessions in June), has moved into a full Phase 3 program in Q2 2026. The Phase 3 program includes the EMBOLD trials in adults with obesity or overweight (with and without type 2 diabetes), the ELUMINATE trials in adults with type 2 diabetes (as monotherapy and in combination with dapagliflozin), and long-term cardiovascular and kidney outcome trials. AstraZeneca is now the third major sponsor competing with Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly for the oral GLP-1 market alongside oral semaglutide/Ozempic and orforglipron (Foundayo, FDA-approved April 2026). AstraZeneca separately revised the peak sales projection for tozorakimab (experimental respiratory treatment) to above $5 billion from the previous $3 billion estimate. AZN shares rose approximately 1.7% in London Monday morning trading.

Industry · View digest

Merck LIPFENDRA (Enlicitide) Post-Approval Analyst Coverage: Financial Analysts Model More Than $2 Billion in Peak Annual Sales After First Few Years on the Market, RBC Capital Markets Calls the Label 'The Cleanest in the PCSK9 Class' With Zero Contraindications or Hypersensitivity Warnings (Unlike Approved Injectable Competitors Amgen Repatha, Regeneron/Sanofi Praluent, and Novartis Leqvio), and Merck Confirms the CORALreef Outcomes Cardiovascular Trial (NCT06008756) Has Completed Enrollment at More Than 14,500 Participants to Test the Cardiovascular Morbidity and Mortality Question

Analyst coverage of Merck's LIPFENDRA (enlicitide) FDA approval (Thursday July 16) crystallized Friday. Financial analysts projected LIPFENDRA can generate more than $2 billion in annual sales after a few years on the market. RBC Capital Markets described the label as 'the cleanest in the PCSK9 class,' noting zero contraindications or hypersensitivity warnings, unlike the currently approved injectable PCSK9 competitors (Amgen Repatha/evolocumab, Regeneron/Sanofi Praluent/alirocumab, and Novartis Leqvio/inclisiran). In supporting Phase 3 data, LIPFENDRA statistically outperformed other oral non-statin drugs (Nexletol/bempedoic acid and Zetia/ezetimibe) in adjunctive hypercholesterolemia populations. LIPFENDRA continues to be evaluated in the large cardiovascular outcomes trial CORALreef Outcomes (NCT06008756), which Merck confirmed has completed enrollment with more than 14,500 participants. It is not yet known whether LIPFENDRA reduces cardiovascular morbidity and mortality; the outcomes trial will address that question. Additional data on the safety profile: in CORALreef Lipids, adverse-reaction frequencies were similar between LIPFENDRA and placebo; in CORALreef HeFH the most common adverse reactions more frequent versus placebo were diarrhea (7% vs. 2%) and dizziness (9% vs. 4%), with discontinuation rates similar to placebo.

Industry · View digest

Novo Nordisk US Operations EVP Jamey Millar Statement (July 1): Wegovy Access Expanded for Medicare Beneficiaries Through the Bridge; All Doses and Formulations of Wegovy Injection and Wegovy Pill Available Nationwide, Company Flags Cardiovascular-Outcome Evidence as Distinguishing Feature for Seniors 65+ with Known Heart Disease

Novo Nordisk US Operations EVP Jamey Millar released a formal statement Wednesday July 1, 2026, framing the Medicare GLP-1 Bridge as 'an important step in getting Wegovy to more patients' and committing to continued work with CMS, healthcare professionals, pharmacists, and patient advocates on Bridge implementation. Millar's cardiovascular-outcome framing was the piece of the statement designed to distinguish Wegovy from competitor GLP-1s under the Bridge: 'Obesity is a serious, common chronic disease facing older Americans, and Wegovy is the only weight management medicine proven to reduce the risk of heart attack, stroke, or cardiovascular death in patients who also have known heart disease. That distinction matters for seniors age 65 and older, who have a high burden of both conditions.' The SELECT trial data (2023-2024) underpin the cardiovascular claim. The Bridge covers all doses and formulations of Wegovy injection (including the 7.2 mg Wegovy HD launched April 2026) and Wegovy pill (1.5, 4, 9, and 25 mg oral tablets, launched January 5, 2026 and reaching 3 million prescriptions by June 7). The program is available nationwide across all US states and territories through December 31, 2027. PharmExec and PR Newswire ran the announcement.