Structure Therapeutics Stock Doubles on 'Homerun' Obesity Pill Data
Positive Phase 2b results for oral drug aleniglipron position the biotech as a contender in the lucrative weight-loss market dominated by injectable treatments.
Shares of Structure Therapeutics (NASDAQ: GPCR) more than doubled in Monday trading after the company announced what analysts are calling “homerun” results for its experimental oral weight-loss drug, aleniglipron. The successful mid-stage trial data positions the small biotech as a formidable contender in a market currently dominated by injectable blockbusters from giants Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk.
The company's stock surged by as much as 105%, hitting a new 52-week high and pushing its market capitalization over $2 billion. By midday, the shares were trading up approximately 95% at $67.37.
The catalyst for the dramatic rally was positive topline data from the company's Phase 2b ACCESS study. According to the official announcement, patients taking a 120 mg once-daily dose of aleniglipron achieved a placebo-adjusted mean weight loss of 11.3%, or 27.3 pounds, over 36 weeks. An exploratory arm of the study using a higher dose showed weight loss of up to 15.3%.
The Quest for an Oral Alternative
The strong efficacy data propels Structure Therapeutics into the top tier of companies developing a pill-based treatment that could challenge the injectable GLP-1 therapies, such as Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy and Eli Lilly’s Zepbound, which have transformed the obesity market but require patients to self-administer weekly shots. The convenience of a daily pill is widely seen as a significant market advantage.
Crucially, the company reported that aleniglipron was well-tolerated, with a safety profile consistent with the GLP-1 drug class. Most adverse events were gastrointestinal in nature, a common side effect of these treatments. The discontinuation rate due to such events was 10.4% in the 120 mg cohort. The data provides early validation that the company may have avoided some of the pitfalls that have plagued competitors.
A Competitive Field
The race to develop an effective oral GLP-1 drug is intense. While Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk are also developing their own pill-based options, the field has seen high-profile failures. Earlier this year, Pfizer discontinued the development of its twice-daily oral candidate, danuglipron, due to tolerability issues and side effects, including a high rate of patients discontinuing treatment.
Structure’s positive results stand in sharp contrast and suggest its small-molecule approach could be a key differentiator. As reported by Bloomberg, the efficacy of aleniglipron appears competitive with other oral candidates in development.
"These compelling data for aleniglipron, our wholly-owned oral small molecule GLP-1RA, support our vision and mission to discover and develop innovative oral medicines for chronic diseases,” said Raymond Stevens, Ph.D., Founder and CEO of Structure Therapeutics, in a statement. “We believe aleniglipron has the potential to be a best-in-class oral GLP-1RA as well as a backbone for future combination therapeutics for obesity and related diseases."
Following the successful mid-stage results, Structure Therapeutics announced its plans to advance aleniglipron to a pivotal Phase 3 study in 2026. The company will also explore combination therapies, potentially pairing the drug with other mechanisms to further enhance weight loss and address related metabolic conditions. For investors, the Phase 2b data serves as a significant de-risking event, validating the company's scientific platform and elevating its status from a speculative biotech to a company with a clear path toward commercialization in a multi-billion dollar market.