Pfizer said the move reflects a broader obesity pipeline reset, while D&D Pharmatech argued its ORALINK oral peptide platform remains intact and joint research is still continuing.
D&D Pharmatech's stock fell about 21.6% on the morning of the 5th after Pfizer stopped development of MET-224o, an oral GLP-1 obesity candidate built on D&D Pharmatech's ORALINK platform. Pfizer disclosed in its Q2 2026 earnings release on the 4th that it was halting clinical trials for MET-224o and also discontinuing Phase 2 GIPR antagonist (drug blocking the glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide receptor) PF-07976016, marking a major reshaping of its obesity pipeline. D&D Pharmatech said the decision reflects Pfizer's post-acquisition strategy rather than any technical problem with ORALINK, noting Pfizer continues to pursue peptide-based oral GLP-1 products and is still working with the company on newer obesity programs. MET-224o had been seen as the lead ORALINK-based asset after D&D Pharmatech licensed six oral obesity drug candidates to Metsera in 2023 and 2024 in deals worth a combined $803.5 million, before Pfizer acquired Metsera for about $10 billion last November. Pfizer is now centering its obesity portfolio on Phase 3 injectable berobenatide while shifting toward more differentiated oral and multi-agonist approaches as Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly gain traction in the fast-growing oral obesity market.