NEW YORK, Jan 14, 2026, 15:10 EST — Regular session
Pfizer Inc shares climbed about 2% to $25.65 on Wednesday following CEO Albert Bourla’s remarks on the company’s push into the rapidly expanding cash-pay obesity drug market. “We are all in on obesity,” Bourla told reporters at the J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference. Pfizer plans to launch 10 Phase 3 trials for its Metsera obesity compounds by the end of 2026, aiming to fuel future growth. The company still doesn’t expect revenue growth to return until 2029, as it navigates patent expirations and a slowdown in COVID-era sales. (Reuters)
The shift highlights just how fast Pfizer shares respond to any hint the company might carve out a solid route to fresh blockbusters. Over the last year, investors have grappled with how much of Pfizer’s earnings were pandemic-driven and how soon it can find replacements.
Obesity drugs are at the heart of this debate. The sector has attracted fresh investment and a wave of new entrants, even as insurers and government payers keep a close eye on coverage and pricing.
Pfizer is making a late push to challenge established frontrunners. Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk continue to lead the field, while newcomers must demonstrate clear advantages in side effects, convenience, and treatment adherence to gain ground.
There’s a clear “but.” Drug development drags on and costs pile up, and bigger trials often reveal safety problems that earlier phases missed. Even if the clinical data looks spotless, pricing can still get squeezed if payers cut back on reimbursements or patients hesitate over out-of-pocket expenses.
AbbVie announced Wednesday plans to deepen its foothold in obesity treatment, banking on an amylin-based drug licensed from Denmark’s Gubra. Chief medical officer Roopal Thakkar highlighted the company’s focus on “tolerability and durability of weight loss,” as drugmakers target a market Reuters projects will hit around $150 billion annually over the next decade. (Reuters)
Novo Nordisk CEO Mike Doustdar flagged challenges ahead for 2026, citing rising competition once market exclusivity expires in certain countries. He described the coming year as “a difficult year.” His remarks highlight how the obesity market is evolving into a global battleground, extending well beyond the U.S. (Reuters)
For Pfizer, the obesity focus arrives amid investor worries about margin protection as older drugs encounter competition. The company points to cost discipline and business development as short-term strategies while it waits for newer products to gain momentum.
Traders are on the lookout for more precise timelines on the trial and Pfizer’s pricing strategy in a market divided between reimbursement and cash pay. A change in tone on pricing or the timing of expected meaningful sales could shake the stock.
Pfizer’s upcoming catalyst is its quarterly corporate update set for Feb. 3 at 10:00 a.m. ET, where it will release fourth-quarter and full-year 2025 results. (Pfizer Investor Relations)
