Novo Nordisk’s new weight-loss drug helped patients lose even more weight on average than its current Wegovy blockbuster treatment, an early-stage trial showed, as the drugmaker races to develop the next generation of obesity medicines.

Novo Nordisk is seen as having fallen behind in the race for new obesity drugs. It argues it is playing the long game.

Novo Nordisk is progressing both subcutaneous and oral versions of amycretin into Phase III trials for patients with obesity and who are overweight. Following a positive end-of-Phase II meeting, Novo Nordisk shared that regulatory authorities have approved the therapy to proceed.