KELOWNA, BC - Lexaria Bioscience Corp. (NASDAQ:LEXX) has announced partial final results from its WEIGHT-A24-1 animal study, showing positive outcomes for its DehydraTECH-liraglutide and certain DehydraTECH-CBD formulations in promoting weight loss. The study found that these groups outperformed others in weight reduction over a 12-week period, with notable acceleration in the final four weeks.
The study involved diabetic Zucker rats which were pre-conditioned and then dosed for 12 weeks following an initial acclimation period. Over 1,500 blood plasma samples were collected for detailed pharmacokinetic analyses, and body weight and blood glucose readings were taken at regular intervals. The primary focus was on the relative performance of the different study groups, providing directional evidence for future research.
Among the findings, DehydraTECH-liraglutide and DehydraTECH-CBD groups B, C, and D showed greater weight loss compared to the other groups, including those treated with Rybelsus® DehydraTECH compositions, whether or not they were processed with SNAC technology. The study also marked the first evaluation of liraglutide processed with DehydraTECH, which is typically administered by injection under the brand names Saxenda® or Victoza®.
Lexaria has filed patent applications recognizing the unique performance of liraglutide when processed with its DehydraTECH technology. However, the company cautions against directly comparing the animal study results to human weight loss studies, as the animals had unlimited access to food, which can lead to morbid obesity.
Further data from the study, including blood glucose findings and analyses of brain and blood absorption pharmacokinetics, are pending. Lexaria is working to minimize delays at third-party laboratories to complete this work and will report the findings as soon as they are available.
DehydraTECH™ is Lexaria's patented drug delivery formulation and processing platform technology designed to improve the way active pharmaceutical ingredients enter the bloodstream through oral delivery. The company, which operates a licensed in-house research laboratory, holds a robust intellectual property portfolio with 46 patents granted and many pending worldwide.
This announcement is based on a press release statement and readers should note that the forward-looking statements contained therein are based on current information and subject to risks and uncertainties.
In other recent news, Teva Pharmaceutical Industries (NYSE:TEVA) Ltd has reported an 11% increase in its second-quarter revenue for 2024, reaching $4.2 billion. The company also launched the first generic version of Sandostatin® LAR Depot in the U.S., a treatment for acromegaly and severe diarrhea associated with carcinoid syndrome. In legal developments, Teva settled U.S. disputes amounting to $450 million and reached an $80 million settlement with the city of Baltimore over opioid litigation. Analysts from UBS and BofA Securities have maintained their Buy rating on Teva's shares, with UBS raising its price target to $26.00 due to the promising prospects of Teva's drug candidate duvakitug.
Meanwhile, Exelixis (NASDAQ:EXEL) has won a legal ruling that secures patent protection for its cancer drug, Cabometyx, until 2030. This development led Morgan Stanley (NYSE:MS) to raise its price target for Exelixis to $30.00.
In other developments, Immuneering Corporation has received orphan drug status from the FDA for its pancreatic cancer drug candidate, IMM-1-104. This follows encouraging initial Phase 2a trial results. These are the recent developments involving Exelixis, Immuneering, and Teva Pharmaceuticals.
InvestingPro Insights
To complement Lexaria Bioscience Corp.'s (NASDAQ:LEXX) recent announcement on its weight loss study results, let's take a look at some financial insights from another major player in the pharmaceutical industry, Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Limited (NYSE:TEVA).
According to InvestingPro data, Teva has shown impressive market performance with a market capitalization of $20.64 billion. The company's stock has demonstrated strong momentum, with a remarkable 123.89% price total return over the past year and a 41.15% return in the last six months. This upward trend aligns with Teva's position as a prominent player in the pharmaceuticals industry, which could be of interest to investors following developments in companies like Lexaria Bioscience.
InvestingPro Tips highlight that Teva's net income is expected to grow this year, and analysts predict the company will be profitable. This positive outlook is particularly relevant in the context of Lexaria's ongoing research, as both companies operate in the pharmaceutical sector where profitability often hinges on successful drug development and commercialization.
It's worth noting that Teva's revenue for the last twelve months as of Q2 2024 stood at $16.29 billion, with a revenue growth of 8.48% over the same period. This growth trajectory could be indicative of the overall health of the pharmaceutical industry, which may bode well for smaller companies like Lexaria as they progress with their research and development efforts.
For investors interested in a deeper dive into Teva's financials and future prospects, InvestingPro offers 12 additional tips, providing a comprehensive view of the company's position in the market.
This article was generated with the support of AI and reviewed by an editor. For more information see our T&C.