Pfizer’s Weight-Loss Gambit: A Latecomer’s Guide

Alright, settle in, folks. Let’s talk weight loss. Lilly and Novo Nordisk are currently throwing a fabulous party – a veritable feast of cash, if you ask me. Zepbound and Mounjaro, those two are printing money – $13.5 billion and $23 billion respectively last year? Oy vey! And Novo Nordisk? $13 billion in Danish krone? That’s enough to buy a small country… or at least a really good herring. Meanwhile, Pfizer? Nada. Zip. Zilch. But can they crash the party? I say, with a little chutzpah, absolutely.

Pfizer’s Convenient Differentiator (Or, Why Monthly Might Matter)

Now, Pfizer’s first attempts at this were… let’s just say they went up in smoke. Danuglipron? A noble effort, tragically felled by safety concerns. It’s like trying to build a sandcastle during a hurricane. But they didn’t give up. They went shopping! A $7 billion acquisition of Metsera, plus potential for another $3 billion? That’s commitment, folks! They’re back in the game, a GLP-1 stock, and they’re not messing around.

Their Chief Scientific Officer, Chris Boshoff, is practically giddy about the Phase 2 results for PF’3944. He says it “significantly increases confidence.” That’s science-speak for “we think this might actually work!” And here’s the kicker: monthly injections. Lilly and Novo? Weekly. Weekly! Who has time for that? It’s like choosing between a sensible sedan and a rocket ship. Pfizer is betting people will prefer the convenience. CEO Albert Bourla thinks most patients would. Smart man. And Aamir Malik, the commercial chief, says it’s a “value proposition” that’ll resonate. It’s marketing-speak for “we’re gonna make a killing!”

Loading widget...

Scaling Up (Or, The Amylin Analog Adventure)

Pfizer isn’t just dabbling; they’re going all-in. Twenty or more clinical trials in 2026! Ten late-stage studies of PF’3944! It’s like a pharmaceutical blitzkrieg! But the real excitement, they say, is with this ultra-long-acting amylin analog. Boshoff thinks, in combination with PF’3944, it could be “class-leading efficacy.” That’s a fancy way of saying “it might be the best thing since sliced bread… or maybe even bagels!”

And they’re not ignoring the oral market. A collaboration with Shanghai Fosun Pharmaceutical for YP05002? Smart. Always have a backup plan. It’s like bringing a spare tire… or maybe a whole extra car, just in case.

Playing the Long Game (Or, The Patience of a Dividend Investor)

Look, let’s be realistic. Pfizer won’t be challenging Lilly and Novo tomorrow. Boshoff admits approvals are at least until 2028. That’s a long time. But they’re betting on that monthly injection, and I think they’re onto something. PF’3944 could become the maintenance therapy of choice in a market that could reach $150 billion. A $150 billion market! That’s enough to make even Scrooge McDuck jealous.

And in the meantime? A 6.4% dividend yield! That’s a beautiful thing, folks. You get paid to wait! It’s like getting a free appetizer while you wait for your main course… a very, very large main course.

So, Lilly and Novo, enjoy your party while it lasts. Pfizer’s coming, and they’re bringing a whole lot of science… and a surprisingly good sense of timing. And remember, folks, in the world of investing, patience is a virtue… and a healthy dividend yield is a blessing.

Read More

2026-02-05 11:54