Pfizer has discontinued eight clinical programs, including its sole remaining GLP-1 receptor agonist PF-06954522 in Phase I trials and two combination studies for PROTAC drug vepdegestrant in breast cancer. The company also halted development of B7-H4 ADC felmetatug vedotin from its Seagen acquisition. Pfizer previously abandoned two oral GLP-1 candidates — lotiglipron due to safety concerns and danuglipron over tolerability issues — effectively exiting the obesity drug race despite filing a new ADC patent targeting the GLP-1 pathway in May.

Vepdegestrant remains on track for US approval in ESR1-mutant breast cancer after becoming the first PROTAC drug submitted for regulatory review. Pfizer terminated its Phase II VERITAC 4 trial combining vepdegestrant with palbociclib and a separate study with CDK4 inhibitor atirmociclib. The moves reflect pipeline prioritisation as Pfizer focuses on commercialising Seagen’s ADC portfolio including Padcev (enfortumab vedotin), which generated USD 967 million in H1 2025.

The development were not mentioned in Pfizer's H1 2025 update published earlier this week.

According to PharmCube's NextBiopharm® database, the GLP-1/1R race includes 13 Big Pharma companies and continues to be led by Novo Nordisk. Click here to request a free trial for NextBiopharm®.