Regeneron plans obesity-drug and cholesterol-therapy combination

Regeneron is planning to test its experimental obesity drug olatorepatide alongside Praluent, its cholesterol-lowering PCSK9 medicine. The company said it aims to begin the clinical program in 2026.

The strategy is to combine weight loss with a larger reduction in LDL, or “bad,” cholesterol. Regeneron says the pairing could lower LDL by more than 50%; its presentation notes that approved GLP-1 obesity drugs typically lower LDL by less than 10%.

The combination could target people with obesity who also have dyslipidemia. Regeneron expects the medicines could be given as convenient weekly injections, though the proposed combination still needs clinical testing.

Olatorepatide is an experimental dual GIP/GLP-1 drug. Regeneron also plans Phase 3 obesity studies of olatorepatide on its own; the drug’s efficacy and safety for these uses have not yet been established by regulators.

The idea has drawn some skepticism:
a Reuters report cited an analyst questioning the development cost and whether combining the drugs addresses a sufficiently large unmet need.