Pfizer moves to acquire Metsera in bold re entry into obesity drug race

Pfizer has announced plans to acquire Metsera, a biotech firm developing next generation obesity medicines, in a deal that could reach up to 7.3 billion US dollars. The deal structure includes an upfront cash payment of 47.50 dollars per share, plus potential additional payments tied to future performance milestones.

Metsera, founded in 2022, has no marketed products yet but is advancing a pipeline of injectable and oral therapies targeting obesity and metabolic disease. Its lead asset, MET 097i, is a long acting GLP 1 agonist that in mid stage trials achieved average weight loss of about 11.3 percent over 12 weeks. The company also recently disclosed positive Phase 1 results for an amylin analog candidate, MET 233i, which demonstrated up to 8.4 percent placebo subtracted weight loss at Day 36 and a half life of around 19 days, supporting once monthly dosing potential.

Pfizer’s move follows its decision earlier this year to halt its own obesity drug development due to safety concerns. The acquisition is viewed as a strategic repositioning into a high growth space, where pricing pressures and competition from companies like Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly are already intense. Analysts project that Metsera’s pipeline could contribute up to 2 billion US dollars in revenue by 2030 if outcomes are favorable.

The acquisition is still subject to regulatory and shareholder approval. If completed, integration of Metsera’s programmes could reignite Pfizer’s ambitions in the obesity and metabolic disease arena.