Amgen (AMGN) News Today

Amgen Inc. (NASDAQ: AMGN) shares have declined after mixed Phase II data on its experimental obesity drug MariTide triggered concerns over tolerability, even as the company reported strong efficacy and advanced development plans. Investors are weighing near-term trial setbacks against longer-term growth prospects and a continued buy rating from Bernstein.

• Bernstein maintained its buy rating on Amgen, underscoring confidence in the company’s pipeline and valuation.
• Full Phase II results showed MariTide delivered up to ~20% average weight loss with significant cardiometabolic improvements, and lower starting doses improved gastrointestinal tolerability without compromising efficacy (PR Newswire, Reuters).
• Separate reports highlighted up to 20% weight loss in people with type 2 diabetes, supporting expansion into multiple Phase III studies and additional indications (Investing.com, MarketWatch, Devdiscourse).
• Amgen is gearing up for Phase III trials in chronic weight management, atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, heart failure and sleep apnea, reflecting a broad development strategy.
• A low start-dose regimen of MariTide matched high-dose weight-loss efficacy while reducing side effects, according to full mid-stage trial data presented at a medical meeting.
• Mizuho’s Jared Holz noted that pharma companies need to beef up M&A in the obesity drug space, highlighting competitive pressures but not directly changing Amgen’s near-term outlook.
• Amgen plans to adjust MariTide’s dosing protocols following higher discontinuation rates at the highest dose, aiming to improve patient tolerability.
• Despite mixed investor sentiment around the trial data, Amgen reaffirmed its multi-dose escalation strategy for MariTide development.
• Amgen shares fell more than 5% to close at $272.44, underperforming the broader market as traders reacted to the trial update (Zacks).
• At the highest MariTide dose, 27% of patients discontinued due to gastrointestinal adverse events, raising tolerability concerns (Barron’s, Benzinga).
• Investors sold off shares after the mixed mid-stage MariTide trial results, signaling caution over longer development timelines and potential side effects (GuruFocus, Benzinga).