Eli Lilly and Company has made the decision to withdraw from the Phase IIb clinical trial for the combined use of bimagrumab and tirzepatide in treating type 2 diabetes, citing “strategic business considerations.” This action has led external observers to speculate that Eli Lilly aims to redirect its resources towards advancing research into obesity treatments. At present, Eli Lilly is still in the midst of conducting a Phase II trial that specifically targets non-diabetic obese adults, with the anticipated announcement of results set for 2026.

Bimagrumab is notable for its ability to “reduce fat while preserving muscle mass.” However, its potential for facilitating “high-quality weight loss” is still in the early stages of clinical validation. Eli Lilly's choice to discontinue the diabetes trial likely stems from considerations related to commercial priorities and the optimal allocation of resources.

The withdrawal of bimagrumab from the diabetes trial has had a counterintuitive effect on LaiKe Pharmaceuticals, causing its stock price to surge despite broader market trends. LaiKe Pharmaceuticals has developed its own ActRIIA monoclonal antibody, LAE102, which is currently the subject of a collaboration with Eli Lilly. Preliminary results from this collaboration are expected to be unveiled in the latter half of 2025.

An increasing number of companies are now setting their sights on the “fat loss without muscle loss” weight-loss drug market, which is seen as the next frontier in the 2.0 era of weight management solutions. Industry analysts project that by 2035, the market for muscle-preserving weight-loss drugs could expand to a value of tens of billions of US dollars. Over the coming year, significant developments are anticipated in the obesity trials involving bimagrumab and tirzepatide, as well as in the multi-dose trials of LAE102.