Altimmune's pemvidutide cuts heavy drinking days in Phase 2 trial

Altimmune reported that its experimental GLP-1/GIP injection pemvidutide achieved its primary and key secondary goals in a Phase 2 study of alcohol use disorder.

The double-blind trial enrolled 100 participants who received either pemvidutide or placebo for 24 weeks. Patients on the drug averaged 4.20 fewer heavy drinking days per week compared with a 2.75-day reduction in the placebo group.

The difference was described as highly statistically significant, and secondary measures such as the proportion of participants with zero heavy drinking days and overall abstinence also favored pemvidutide. Altimmune's stock rose about 19% in pre-market trading following the release.

The results place Altimmune in competition with Eli Lilly and Baseline Therapeutics, which are also pursuing GLP-based therapies for alcohol use disorder.