Wave Life Sciences Shares Fall After Obesity Drug Trial

Wave Life Sciences Ltd. experienced a significant market setback on Thursday, with its shares plunging more than 55%. The sell-off followed the release of early-stage trial data for its experimental obesity drug, WVE-007, which failed to demonstrate a clear benefit at a higher dosage.

In the study, patients who received a single 240-milligram injection of the drug saw an average body weight reduction of approximately 0.9% compared to a placebo after six months. The results for this lower dose included a 14% decrease in visceral fat—the dangerous fat that accumulates around internal organs—alongside a modest increase in lean muscle mass. However, the data from a 400-milligram dose cohort proved less impressive, showing only a 5% reduction in visceral fat after three months.