Amgen Obesity Drug Cut Weight in Closely Watched Study

A highly anticipated obesity-drug candidate from biotech Amgen helped patients shed a significant amount of weight in a midstage study, but fell short of the loftier expectations of some investors.

Subjects taking Amgen’s MariTide lost 20% of their body weight compared with those who received placebos, Amgen said Tuesday. Analysts had generally expected the drug to achieve weight reduction of 20% or more.