MW Pfizer says once-a-month weight-loss drug works as it forecasts profit decline

By Steve Goldstein

Pfizer highlighted the performance of a weight-loss drug it acquired in last year's deal to buy Metsera.

Pfizer on Tuesday hailed a study of a weight-loss drug candidate while forecasting a profit decline due to the impact of Trump administration policies on pricing and tariffs.

Pfizer $(PFE)$ said a Phase 2 study of a drug requiring one injection a month - rather than the once-a-week schedule for existing popular drugs from Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk - demonstrated statistically significant weight reduction of up to 12.3% after 28 weeks in adults with obesity or overweight without Type 2 diabetes.

The drug candidate, called PF-08653944, which Pfizer acquired in last year's deal to buy Metsera, required weekly dosing up to week 12. Pfizer said it would now progress to a late-stage, or Phase 3, trial.

Pfizer also reported its fourth-quarter financials. It reported a 5% rise in adjusted earnings per share, to 66 cents, while revenue fell 1% to $17.56 billion.

Analysts polled by FactSet expected earnings of 57 cents a share on sales of $16.85 billion.

It reiterated its 2026 guidance of adjusted EPS falling to between $2.80 and $3 from 2025's $3.22 on revenue between $59.5 billion and $62.5 billion, vs. last year's $62.58 billion.

Analysts have forecast 2026 EPS of $2.97 on sales of $60.97 billion.

Pfizer said the guidance incorporates the anticipated unfavorable impact of most-favored-nation drug pricing and TrumpRx, as well as currently imposed tariffs.

Pfizer also said it doesn't plan to buy back any stock this year. It did not buy back shares in 2025.

Pfizer shares drifted 0.7% lower after the two announcements. The stock has gained 7% this year.

-Steve Goldstein

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February 03, 2026 07:28 ET (12:28 GMT)

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