Amgen Inc 
AMGN says patients who received the weight loss injection in a mid-stage trial weighed up to 20% less on average after one year.
The biopharma giant believes its supplement will contribute to even greater weight loss with continued use (beyond 52 weeks), as no plateau was observed in the Phase II trial.
The company’s chief scientific officer touted MariTime’s “differentiated profile and strong HbA1C reduction” in a press release today.
Amgen shares are still down about 7.0% in premarket trading on Tuesday.
Why is Amgen stock down today?
Amgen’s share price is down primarily because its mid-stage trial fell slightly short of expectations.
Analysts had predicted that MariTide would contribute to weight loss of “at least” 20%. Some had even predicted weight loss of up to 25% in 52 weeks.
Still, the multinational said it will use today’s data to design a late-stage study of MariTide, which is “already in the planning phase.”
Amgen is committed to expanding its presence in the weight loss drug space. According to experts, these could generate sales of around $150 billion (global) per year by the end of this decade.
Amgen’s share price is currently around 20% below its annual high on September 20th.
How does Amgen compare to Eli Lilly?
With its weight-loss injection, Amgen is in direct competition with companies like Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk, which have been the biggest focus in treating obesity.
Some even expect LLY to become the world’s first non-tech $1 trillion company as Zepbound continues to grow its sales next year.
This drug helped patients in a late-stage study lose over 22% of their body weight within 72 weeks.
In comparison, Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy resulted in a 15% weight loss over 68 weeks.
However, Amgen believes that patients will be able to lose weight significantly faster and with fewer injections with MariTide compared to competing products.
At the time of writing, Amgen shares pay a dividend yield of 3.06%, making them all the more attractive for income investors.
Should You Buy Amgen Stock Given Weakness?
Today’s selloff in Amgen stock could be a worthwhile buy considering Cantor Fitzgerald analyst Olivia Brayer sees upside potential to $405.
Their price target suggests there is almost 50% upside potential from here.
Additionally, Amgen Inc. increased its earnings per share to $5.27 in the most recent quarter from $3.23 a year ago (significantly better than expected), while revenue increased 23% year-over-year to $8.5 billion US dollar rose.
The Nasdaq-listed company also improved its third-quarter profit margin by a whopping 800 basis points to 33%. Robert A.
Bradway, the company’s chief executive, told investors at the time:
We continue to invest heavily in our rapidly developing pipeline with a focus on delivering innovative therapies in our key therapeutic areas.
**PAA:** Given the potential for significant weight loss, what are the ethical considerations surrounding access and affordability of MariTime, and how might Amgen ensure equitable distribution of this potentially life-changing treatment?
## Interview: Exploring Amgen’s New Weight Loss Injection
**Introduction:**
Welcome to World Today News, where we bring you the latest developments in science and business. Today, we have the pleasure of discussing Amgen’s groundbreaking new weight-loss injection, MariTime, with two esteemed guests. [Guest 1 Name] is a leading endocrinologist specializing in obesity treatment, and [Guest 2 Name] is a financial analyst with expertise in the pharmaceutical sector.
**Section 1: MariTime and Weight Loss**
**Interviewer:** Thank you both for joining us. Let’s dive right into the exciting news about MariTime. [Guest 1], what are your initial thoughts on Amgen’s claim of 20% weight reduction within a year? Is this a significant breakthrough in the field of obesity treatment?
**[Guest 1 Response]**
**Interviewer:** [Guest 2], from a financial perspective, how does this potential for significant weight loss translate into market opportunity for Amgen?
**[Guest 2 Response]**
**Section 2: Competition in the Weight Loss Market**
**Interviewer:** [Guest 1], Amgen clearly faces competition from already established players like Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk. How does MariTime differentiate itself from existing treatments, and what advantages might it offer patients?
**[Guest 1 Response]**
**Interviewer:** [Guest 2], how do you anticipate this competitive landscape will evolve? Will MariTime be able to carve out a significant market share despite the strong presence of existing players?
**[Guest 2 Response]**
**Section 3: Investor Outlook and Future Implications**
**Interviewer:** Amgen’s stock price saw a dip despite the encouraging trial results. [Guest 2], what factors might be contributing to investor hesitancy, and do you believe this dip represents a buying opportunity?
**[Guest 2 Response]**
**Interviewer:** [Guest 1], from a healthcare perspective, what are the potential implications of a successful weight loss drug like MariTime for tackling the global obesity epidemic?
**[Guest 1 Response]**
**Conclusion:**
Thank you both for sharing your valuable insights with us today. It’s clear that Amgen’s MariTime has the potential to significantly impact the weight loss market and offer a new ray of hope for individuals struggling with obesity. As research progresses and MariTime advances through late-stage trials, we can expect more clarity on its efficacy, safety, and ultimately, its impact on global health.
