Pfizer Going All In Obesity Drug Development Ceo Bourla Says 2025 01 13
ReutersJAN 27
Pfizer CEO Says They're Going 'All In' on Obesity Drug
Above: Albert Bourla, chairman and CEO of Pfizer Inc., speaks during the 2024 Concordia Annual Summit at Sheraton New York Times Square on Sept. 24, 2024, in New York City. Image copyright: Leigh Vogel/Contributor/Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images
The Spin
Pro-establishment narrative
Weight loss drugs have already shown positive impacts by revolutionizing obesity treatment, with injectables like Ozempic and Wegovy leading the charge. Now, with Pfizer's progress on an oral obesity pill, the accessibility and convenience of weight loss treatments are set to improve even more. Oral medications could be more cost-effective and easier to distribute, addressing supply issues and affordability.
Establishment-critical narrative
Big Pharma is pushing "Obesity First Medicine" to ensure a lucrative market for their weight loss drugs. By suggesting that health improvements come from these drugs before significant weight loss, they keep patients on these medications indefinitely. The lack of robust, long-term studies also means pharmaceutical companies can push these drugs as solutions for various health conditions, not just obesity. This is clearly about profit over health.