This weight loss stock is the best alternative to Eli Lilly, Novo – SA Sentiment

A recent poll of Seeking Alpha subscribers cited Amgen (NASDAQ:AMGN) as the next big obesity play ahead of Eli Lilly (LLY) and Novo Nordisk (NVO), the current leaders in the market.

The hunt for alternative obesity stocks comes as Lilly (LLY) and Novo (NVO) command premium valuations after over a threefold rise in value over the past three years, with their obesity drugs Wegovy and Zepbound fueling investor interest.

Seeking Alpha's flagship newsletter, Wall Street Breakfast, conducted the poll, drawing responses from one thousand SA subscribers and potentially unearthing alternatives to play the market.

However, with about 40% and 31% of SA subscribers voting in favor of Lilly (LLY) and Novo (NVO), the duo was crowned as the obesity stocks with the most upside potential. Still, more than 20% of respondents disagreed as anti-obesity drug development gets increasingly crowded.

Amgen (AMGN) shares surged in May after the company detailed plans for its weight-loss therapy, MariTide. Formerly known as AMG 133, the monthly injectable differs in the mechanism of action from once-weekly GLP-1s, Wegovy, and Zepbound.

While about 9% of SA subscribers pointed to Amgen (AMGN) as the most promising obesity play, roughly 7% thought AstraZeneca (AZN) could be the answer.

The Anglo-Swedish drugmaker inked an exclusive partnership late last year to license China-based biopharma Eccogene's oral GLP-1 receptor agonist ECC5004 in a deal worth up to $2B.

Surprisingly, Viking Therapeutics (VKTX) commanded just over 6% of votes, even ahead of Pfizer (PFE), which recently announced plans to advance a once-daily regimen for its oral weight loss pill, danuglipron, despite a previous setback.

Altimmune (ALT), Roche (OTCQX:RHHBY) (OTCQX:RHHBF), Regeneron (REGN), Structure Therapeutics (GPCR), Ventyx Biosciences (VTYX), and Zealand Pharma (OTCPK:ZLDPF) were among some of the other obesity stocks cited by SA subscribers in the poll.