AstraZeneca Abandons Oral GLP-1 Candidate AZD0186 Following Disappointing Phase 1 Data

Two months after abandoning a GLP-1R/GCGR dual agonist (cotadutide), AstraZeneca has decided to discontinue another GLP-1 clinical candidate—AZD0186 (a GLP-1R agonist). Preliminary analysis of the Phase I data for AZD0186 convinced the company that the drug would not outperform its competitors.

Source: clinicaltrials.gov

AZD0186 is currently in Phase I clinical trials for the treatment of type 2 diabetes (NCT05694741). AstraZeneca had high hopes for this oral GLP-1, believing that the molecule might offer higher efficacy and tolerability compared to other similar drugs currently in development or available on the market.

Although the Q1 report published in April showed that the drug was still under development, based on the latest data, AstraZeneca believes that AZD0186 may not meet the company's expectations, and the related development plan has been terminated.

Similarly, in the first quarter report, AstraZeneca's other clinical-stage subcutaneous injection GLP-1R/GCGR dual agonist cotadutide has been removed from the company’s pipeline. Last year, this candidate molecule announced the initiation of a Phase IIb/III trial (NCT05364931) for non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), but recruitment was halted after enrolling 54 patients.

AstraZeneca stated that after abandoning the once-daily cotadutide, the company will focus on developing the once-weekly AZD9550 (GLP-1R/GCGR dual agonist), which has currently entered Phase I clinical trials (NCT05848440).

Two consecutive project failures may leave AstraZeneca lagging behind other multinational corporations (MNCs) in the GLP-1 field. Aside from the highly successful Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk, Merck recently announced positive news: Phase II study data indicates that its candidate drug, efinopegdutide (a GLP-1R/GCGR dual agonist), may outperform Novo Nordisk’s Ozempic in treating non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH).

Although AstraZeneca's GLP-1 ambitions currently seem far from clinical application, the company stated that some other assets may achieve the same goals as existing GLP-1 players. For example, in terms of weight loss, the company’s long-acting amylin analog AZD6234 is worth anticipating; in diabetes treatment, the company is developing a one-time cell therapy ( ).

References:

[1]https://www.fiercebiotech.com/biotech/astrazeneca-drops-another-glp-1-after-phase-1-data-busts-market-beating-diabetes-hopes

[2]https://www.fiercebiotech.com/biotech/mercks-efinopegdutide-bests-ozempic-tease-phase-2-nash-data

[3]https://www.merck.com/news/merck-to-present-data-for-efinopegdutide-mk-6024-an-investigational-glp-1-glucagon-receptor-co-agonist-in-patients-with-nonalcoholic-fatty-liver-disease-nafld-at-easl-2023/

[4]https://endpts.com/astrazeneca-ends-development-of-oral-glp-1-due-to-competitive-market/

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