Pfizer's obesity strategy runs through the $4.9 billion Metsera acquisition completed in late 2025, which brought a deep pipeline of next-generation peptide candidates in obesity and cardiometabolic disease. The lead asset, berobenatide (MET-097i, also known as PF'3944), is an ultra-long-acting GLP-1 receptor agonist that posted 14.1% mean placebo-subtracted weight loss in the Phase 2b VESPER-1 study and 15.9% weight loss with no plateau at 32 weeks in the VESPER-1 exploratory extension presented at ADA 2026 on June 6.
The Phase 3 program runs to 10+ trials. VESPER-4 (weekly dosing, obesity without T2D) initiated late 2025; VESPER-5 (weekly, obesity + T2D) launched March 2026; VESPER-6 (monthly maintenance) is planned. MET-233i is a monthly amylin analog in earlier-stage development, intended for combination with berobenatide. Pfizer also retained the rights to discontinued danuglipron (the small-molecule oral GLP-1 dropped in April 2025 after a drug-induced liver injury case) and is developing PF-08653944 in earlier development.
Leadership transitioned on June 18, 2026 when Pfizer announced CFO Dave Denton's departure on August 15 for a consumer-goods opportunity, with Cecile Guegan (SVP, Finance, Global Biopharmaceutical Business since 2022) named Interim CFO effective August 16 while an external search runs. Pfizer reaffirmed 2026 guidance the same day: revenues of $59.5-62.5B and adjusted diluted EPS of $2.80-3.00.
Outside obesity, Pfizer's peptide footprint includes ASCO 2026 oncology presentations across 40+ company-sponsored, investigator-sponsored, and collaborative abstracts — including peptide-drug conjugate programs. Stories here cover trial readouts, manufacturing decisions, leadership transitions, and the broader oncology footprint. See [[metsera]], [[vesper-1]], and [[asco-2026]].
The peptide-and-obesity Q2 2026 earnings week (Merck August 4, Pfizer August 4, Amgen August 4, Eli Lilly August 5, Novo Nordisk H1 August 4-5) delivered mixed signals across the pharma sector. Merck (NYSE: MRK) posted $16.61 billion Q2 revenue (+5% YoY, beat consensus by $250M), raised FY revenue guidance to $66.3-67.3 billion but cut adjusted EPS guidance to $2.66-2.76 due to a $5.7 billion Terns Pharmaceuticals acquisition charge; Keytruda reached $8.37 billion (+5%) and LIPFENDRA (enlicitide) launched at $315/month with $5 billion peak sales potential by 2034. Pfizer (NYSE: PFE) reported $15 billion revenue and $0.77 adjusted diluted EPS, raised FY revenue guidance midpoint to $60.5-62.5 billion, and CEO Bourla said the obesity program (danuglipron plus Metsera pipeline) is advancing with substantial momentum. Amgen (NASDAQ: AMGN) reported $10.05 billion Q2 revenue (+10% YoY), raised FY guidance to $38.2-39.4 billion, discontinued AMG 513 early-stage obesity candidate leaving MariTide as sole obesity focus. Eli Lilly (NYSE: LLY) delivered $23 billion Q2 revenue (+48% YoY blowout), raised FY guidance to $85-87 billion, Mounjaro reached $9.9 billion (+91%), Zepbound $4.9 billion US (+44%), and Foundayo generated $98 million in first fully operational commercial quarter. Novo Nordisk H1 reached 78.49 billion DKK ($12.09 billion, +3% CER) with Wegovy pill at 5 million+ prescriptions and raised guidance; NVO shares fell 5% on margin concerns. Alnylam (NASDAQ: ALNY) extended a 30% selloff (approximately $12 billion market cap lost) since the July 30 Q2 report on the Amvuttra TTR guidance cut plus eplontersen setback.
Pfizer (NYSE: PFE) reported Q2 2026 earnings Tuesday August 4, 2026 with revenue of $15 billion and adjusted diluted EPS of $0.77, beating analyst expectations. The company raised the midpoint of its full-year 2026 revenue guidance to $60.5-62.5 billion, up from a previous $59.5-62.5 billion range. The guidance update reflected approximately $1.5 billion in upside from non-COVID products, partially offset by a reduction in the company's forecast for COVID-19 treatments (Paxlovid and Comirnaty) now pegged at approximately $4 billion for the year. Adjusted R&D expenses increased 12% operationally to $2.7 billion, driven by increased spending on oncology and obesity product candidates. CEO Albert Bourla said in the earnings call that the obesity program is advancing with substantial momentum and that the oncology portfolio remains a source of strength. Shares rose approximately 1.86% to $25.50 following the announcement. Pfizer's obesity program includes danuglipron (oral GLP-1) and multiple next-generation candidates advanced through the Metsera acquisition; the Metsera monthly-injectable ultra-long-acting GLP-1 candidate produced up to 11% weight loss over 28 weeks in Phase 2b data reported earlier in 2026.
The House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party (chaired by Rep. John Moolenaar, R-Michigan) received responses from five drugmakers by the 5:00 PM ET Friday July 17, 2026 deadline: Merck, AbbVie, Eli Lilly, Pfizer, and Bristol-Myers Squibb. The June 29 letters had requested records on due diligence processes, data protection standards, informed consent procedures, and oversight practices at Chinese clinical-trial and manufacturing sites, particularly at Xinjiang-region hospitals and hospitals affiliated with the People's Liberation Army. Documented trial counts: Merck 224 China studies since 2005 (31 Xinjiang + 40 military); Eli Lilly 220-plus studies since 2003 (11 Xinjiang + 16 military 2016-2024); Pfizer 6 Xinjiang + 43 military; AbbVie 100-plus studies since 2007 (17 Xinjiang + 16 military); Bristol-Myers Squibb 180 studies since 2004 (8 Xinjiang + 17 military 2015-2024). The Committee letters explicitly state there is no evidence any of the five drugmakers has engaged in illegal activity or wrongdoing. The next phase is Committee review of the submitted records and potential public hearings if oversight questions remain unresolved.
The House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party (chaired by Rep. John Moolenaar, R-Michigan) reaches its 5:00 PM ET response deadline today Friday July 17, 2026 for five US drugmakers: Merck, Eli Lilly, Pfizer, AbbVie, and Bristol-Myers Squibb. The June 29 letters requested records on due diligence processes, data protection standards, and oversight procedures at Chinese trial sites, particularly Xinjiang-region hospitals and hospitals affiliated with China's military. Documented trial counts: Merck sponsored or collaborated on 224 clinical studies in China since 2005, including at least 31 trials involving Xinjiang-region hospitals and at least 40 trials at Chinese military medical centers. Eli Lilly sponsored or collaborated on more than 220 clinical studies in China since 2003, including at least 11 Xinjiang-region trials and at least 16 military-medical-center trials between 2016 and 2024. Pfizer had at least 6 Xinjiang-region trials and 43 military-hospital trials. AbbVie had 100-plus clinical studies in China since 2007, including at least 17 Xinjiang-region and 16 military. Bristol-Myers Squibb had approximately 180 China studies since 2004, including at least 8 Xinjiang and 17 military between 2015 and 2024. The Committee letters state there is no evidence any of the five drugmakers engaged in illegal activity or wrongdoing. Merck said patient safety and ethical integrity are foundational; Eli Lilly said it is reviewing the letter closely; AbbVie declined to comment.
The House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party's July 17, 2026 response deadline arrives tomorrow for five drugmakers on records of clinical trials conducted at Xinjiang-region hospitals and Chinese military medical centers: Merck, AbbVie, Eli Lilly, Pfizer, and Bristol-Myers Squibb. Chair Rep. John Moolenaar (R-Michigan) sent letters on June 29 requesting due diligence, data protection processes, and standards at Chinese trial sites. Updated trial counts documented in the letters: Merck sponsored or collaborated on 224 clinical studies in China since 2005, including at least 31 trials involving Xinjiang-region hospitals and at least 40 trials involving Chinese military medical centers. Eli Lilly appears to have sponsored or collaborated on more than 220 clinical studies in China since 2003, with at least 11 Xinjiang-region trials and at least 16 military-medical-center trials between 2016 and 2024. Pfizer had at least 6 Xinjiang-region trials and 43 military-hospital trials. AbbVie had 17 Xinjiang and 16 military. Bristol-Myers Squibb's specific counts were not detailed in the summary but the company received the same request. Merck stated that patient safety and ethical integrity are foundational to its clinical research; Eli Lilly said it is reviewing the letter closely.
Pfizer (NYSE: PFE) named Danna Breen Vice President and head of obesity discovery on Monday July 13, 2026, following the departure of longtime scientific leader Kendra Bence. Bence had led internal medicine research across metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (formerly known as NASH) and obesity discovery at Pfizer's Kendall Square research site for more than a decade, and described the role as 'the absolute privilege of my career' when announcing her exit. Breen advanced through multiple roles at Pfizer including Research Associate, Fellow, Senior Principal Scientist, Principal Scientist, and Senior Scientist, working on novel obesity drug targets and research collaborations. The role transition arrives as Pfizer's obesity portfolio expands substantially: the monthly GLP-1 receptor agonist berobenatide (PF-3944) is advancing through 10 planned Phase 3 studies presented at ADA 2026 in June, and the November 2025 $10 billion Metsera acquisition brought in the amylin peptide MET-233i (positive Phase 1 data supporting monthly dosing). Endpoints News concurrently reported AI startup Xaira making its own leadership adjustments as the sector's talent map continues to reshape.
The House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party (chaired by Rep. John Moolenaar, R-Michigan) faces its July 17 response deadline one week from tomorrow for five drugmakers under national-security investigation over clinical trials conducted at Chinese sites: Eli Lilly, Merck, AbbVie, Pfizer, and Bristol-Myers Squibb. The letters, first reported by Reuters, were dated June 29 and asked companies to provide details of due diligence, data protection processes, and other standards at their trial sites in China, with particular attention to the Xinjiang region and military hospitals. Eli Lilly disclosed sponsoring at least 11 trials at Xinjiang-region hospitals plus at least 16 trials at Chinese military medical centers and hospitals, across type 2 diabetes, heart disease, obesity, Alzheimer's disease, axial spondyloarthritis, breast cancer, lupus, alopecia, Crohn's disease, and additional indications. The committee said it has no evidence of company wrongdoing but cites potential ethical and national-security risks. The letters run parallel to the BIOSECURE Act framework, the June 30 STAT Pharmalittle preview of the probe, and industry warnings from Fierce Biotech that the scrutiny risks 'huge distraction and expense' for US biopharma.
Pfizer announced on June 18, 2026 (8-K filed) that Chief Financial Officer Dave Denton will step down from his role and leave the company on August 15 for a professional opportunity outside the pharmaceutical industry in consumer goods. Cecile Guegan, currently Senior Vice President, Finance, Global Biopharmaceutical Business (joined Pfizer in 2005, current role since 2022), was named Interim CFO effective August 16 while Pfizer conducts internal and external search. The same June 18 8-K reaffirmed 2026 guidance: revenues of $59.5-62.5B and adjusted diluted EPS of $2.80-3.00. Pfizer also presented detailed berobenatide (PF'3944) Phase 2b VESPER-1/-2/-3 data at the ADA Scientific Sessions June 6 supporting monthly dosing for the first-in-class GLP-1 RA peptide and confirmed plans for 10 Phase 3 studies in 2026 as part of a 20+ obesity-trial program. PFE stock dropped 3% on the CFO surprise.
Pfizer's ADA Phase 2b readout for berobenatide (15.9% weight loss at 32 weeks, no plateau, monthly dosing via a 0.5 mL low-volume injection) validates the $4.9 billion Metsera acquisition that closed earlier this year. The company now plans more than 20 obesity-related trials in 2026, including 10 Phase 3 studies. Monthly dosing positions berobenatide against once-weekly incumbents on the adherence axis, the same logic behind Amgen's MariTide and Ascletis's ASC30.
Pfizer presented Phase 2b VESPER-1 data for berobenatide (PF-07976094 / PF'3944), the ultra-long-acting injectable GLP-1 peptide engineered for monthly dosing through a 0.5 mL low-volume injection. At ADA 2026, the 2.4 mg weekly dose drove up to 15.9% mean weight loss at 32 weeks with no plateau across the VESPER program, plus improved glycemic control and favorable tolerability. Pfizer plans more than 20 obesity-related trials in 2026, including 10 Phase 3 studies of berobenatide in chronic weight management, knee osteoarthritis, and obstructive sleep apnea. The asset entered Pfizer's pipeline through the $4.9 billion Metsera acquisition.
BioPharma Dive's June 8 ADA wrap framed the meeting's competitive sort: Lilly reinforced its lead with retatrutide (28.3%) and Foundayo's head-to-head win over oral semaglutide; Pfizer's berobenatide emerged as 'foundational' with the monthly-dosing differentiation; Roche's enicepatide drew 'me-too' framing from RBC's Trung Huynh ('does little to differentiate enicepatide from its peers'). Novo Nordisk lost ground after CagriSema missed non-inferiority versus its target competitor on some endpoints. Lilly closed about 4.5% higher Monday on the data; Novo fell 3.46%.
Pfizer presented updated Phase 1 data for sigvotatug vedotin (PF-08046047), an integrin β6-directed antibody-drug conjugate that carries the microtubule inhibitor MMAE through a cleavable linker, combined with pembrolizumab in non-small cell lung cancer. The early efficacy supports the ongoing first-line SigVie-003 Phase 3 trial, while SigVie-002 tests the conjugate as monotherapy in previously treated advanced NSCLC. The readout extends ASCO's targeted-conjugate theme from peptide scaffolds to antibody carriers sharing the same MMAE payload.
A May 21 Research and Markets report projected the global GLP-1 receptor agonist weight loss drug market expanding from $15.5B in 2025 to $18.02B in 2026 — a 16.3% compound annual growth rate. The forecast tracks through 2030 and 2035 across major players Novo Nordisk, Eli Lilly, and Pfizer, plus the growing oral GLP-1 segment (Wegovy pill, Foundayo, Structure Therapeutics' aleniglipron entering Phase 3). By 2020 roughly 4 million people were on GLP-1s; by 2026 that estimate has reached 30 million. The market data is the formal backdrop for the broader 2026 obesity-pharmacology conversation: GLP-1 alone is now larger than the 2024 oncology drug class's largest single product. The IQVIA peptide-CDMO capacity-build wave (Bachem, PolyPeptide, CordenPharma SPPS expansions through 2028) and the Lilly $4.5B Lebanon Indiana investment lean directly into the demand projection.
ASCO 2026 abstracts will release on asco.org/abstracts beginning 5:00 PM ET on Wednesday May 21, ahead of the May 29-June 2 Chicago meeting. The peptide-oncology slate is substantial: Pfizer announced 40+ company-sponsored, investigator-sponsored, and collaborative oncology abstracts including three late-breaking sessions; Bicycle Therapeutics has an oral and four poster presentations on zelenectide pevedotin (BT8009, nectin-4 PDC) with Duravelo-2 interim data; Avacta has Phase Ia/Ib data on AVA6000 (FAP-Dox PDC) in salivary gland cancers; BioVaxys's MVP-S survivin peptide vaccine PESCO trial data; BriaCell's six Bria-IMT/Bria-OTS+ presentations on metastatic breast cancer; and Replimune's RP1 + nivolumab 3-year melanoma OS data. Crinetics CRN09682 SSTR2 NDC BRAVESST2 update expected.
Pfizer reported April 29 Q1 2026 revenue of $14.45 billion (vs. $13.92B consensus) and adjusted diluted EPS of $0.75 (vs. $0.72), with non-COVID operational revenue up 7%. The company reaffirmed 2026 guidance of $59.5–62.5B in revenue and $2.80–3.00 in adjusted EPS. On the obesity portfolio, Pfizer confirmed 20+ planned and ongoing studies across the diverse obesity pipeline acquired with Metsera, including 10 Phase 3 trials of PF'3944 (MET-097i) — the recently initiated Phase 3 VESPER-4 once-weekly study, the planned VESPER-5 in T2D, the planned VESPER-6 once-monthly maintenance study, and at least seven more. MET-233i, a monthly amylin analog, is in Phase 1 monotherapy and combination-with-PF'3944 development.
Pfizer announced that data from more than 40 company-sponsored, investigator-sponsored, and collaborative research abstracts will appear at ASCO 2026 in Chicago (May 29–June 2). The slate spans Pfizer's diverse oncology pipeline including peptide-drug conjugate programs, bispecific T-cell engagers, and antibody-drug conjugates. Combined with previously announced ASCO 2026 acceptances from Bicycle Therapeutics, BriaCell, Greenwich LifeSciences, BioVaxys, and Immutep, the meeting is shaping up as the most peptide-and-immuno-conjugate-heavy ASCO in recent memory — building on the foundation laid at AACR 2026 in San Diego.