TL;DR
Jeffrey Flier recounts involvement in one of the earliest commercial efforts to develop GLP‑1–based metabolic therapies beginning in 1988. Despite promising early work funded in part by Pfizer through an alliance with California Biotechnology, the program was discontinued around 1991 when Pfizer concluded the approach was not worth pursuing; GLP‑1 medicines later became prominent in the 2020s.
What happened
Jeffrey Flier, a former dean of Harvard Medical School, describes joining an early commercial program to pursue GLP‑1 as a therapy for metabolic disease. The initiative was launched after John Baxter of UCSF asked Flier to help form a start‑up focused on metabolic targets; Flier brought in colleagues Ron Kahn and Bruce Spiegelman. The team pursued multiple avenues including novel insulin analogues, insulin sensitizers, identifying the protein behind obesity in genetically obese mice (a project begun years before the ob gene was reported), and gut‑derived factors such as incretins. Pfizer, working with California Biotechnology, served as a major funder, but around 1991 the company decided to stop backing the GLP‑1 program, concluding it was not a viable therapeutic path. Flier emphasizes he is not claiming sole credit for discovery or development and frames the episode as a case study in the uncertainties of drug development.
Why it matters
- It highlights how early-stage scientific leads can be discontinued by industry partners even when they later prove successful.
- The episode underscores decision risks in pharmaceutical R&D and the potential long lead times between discovery and commercial success.
- It provides historical context for the later clinical and commercial prominence of GLP‑1–based medicines in the 2020s.
- The account may inform current debates about collaboration between academic groups, start‑ups, and large pharma firms.
Key facts
- Jeffrey Flier is the author of the account and a former dean of Harvard Medical School.
- Flier says he became involved in a commercial GLP‑1 development effort beginning in 1988.
- John Baxter (UCSF) initiated the start‑up effort and founded California Biotechnology.
- Flier enlisted Harvard colleagues Ron Kahn and Bruce Spiegelman to work on the project.
- Planned research included insulin analogues, insulin‑sensitizing agents, obesity‑related protein identification, and study of gut incretins.
- Pfizer partnered with California Biotechnology and acted as a major funder of the effort.
- Around 1991 Pfizer withdrew support, concluding the GLP‑1 therapeutic approach should be abandoned.
- GLP‑1 drugs later became a significant medical and commercial success in the 2020s, according to the account.
- Flier states he is not seeking personal credit for the discovery or development of GLP‑1 therapies.
- The piece was published on Sept. 9, 2024, on STAT.
What to watch next
- Whether Pfizer or California Biotechnology publicly comment on the decision and its rationale (not confirmed in the source).
- Any retrospective analyses or internal reviews that surface about the 1990s program and why it was halted (not confirmed in the source).
- Broader industry discussion on how to reduce premature termination of promising early‑stage programs (not confirmed in the source).
Quick glossary
- GLP‑1: Glucagon‑like peptide‑1, a hormone involved in glucose regulation and a target for drugs treating metabolic conditions.
- Incretin: A class of gut hormones that enhance insulin secretion in response to food intake.
- Insulin analogue: A modified form of insulin designed to change its absorption, distribution, or duration of action.
- Biotech start‑up: A newly formed company that develops biological or medical technologies, often in partnership with academic researchers or larger firms.
Reader FAQ
Did Pfizer fund the early GLP‑1 work described?
According to the account, Pfizer was a major funder in alliance with California Biotechnology.
When did Pfizer end its support for the program?
The author reports Pfizer withdrew support around 1991.
Does the author claim credit for discovering GLP‑1 therapies?
The author explicitly says he is not claiming credit for discovery or development of GLP‑1 medicines.
Are the clinical successes of GLP‑1 drugs detailed in the piece?
The piece notes the class achieved major medical and financial success in the 2020s but does not provide detailed clinical data.
FIRST OPINION PubMed has competition from Germany. That’s a very good thing By Sara Rubinelli, Rebecca Ivic, Kenneth H. Rabin, Lawrence O. Gostin, and Scott C. Ratzan STAT PLUS OPINION…
Sources
- Pfizer ended up passing on my GLP-1 work back in the early '90s
- Missing Out on GLP-1
- Did Pfizer's exit in the '90s cost them a GLP-1 stronghold?
- How GLP-1 Development Was Abandoned in 1990
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