NAIROBI, Kenya - Global pharmaceutical giant Pfizer Inc. on Thursday, 13 November 2025, announced the successful completion of its acquisition of Metsera, Inc., a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical firm specialising in treatments for obesity and cardiometabolic diseases. The deal, valued at up to $10 billion, marks Pfizer's strategic entry into the rapidly expanding and highly competitive market for weight-loss medications.

The agreement involves an upfront cash payment of $65.60 per share, with an additional potential payment of $20.65 per share tied to the achievement of specific clinical and regulatory milestones. This acquisition concludes a fierce bidding war with Danish pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk, the maker of the popular weight-loss drugs Ozempic and Wegovy, underscoring the immense value placed on Metsera's drug pipeline.

"By acquiring Metsera, we are directing our resources toward one of the most impactful and high-growth therapeutic areas and positioning ourselves to define it," Pfizer Chief Executive Albert Bourla stated, as reported on Thursday.

The Kenyan Context: A Growing Health Challenge

While the acquisition is a global transaction, its implications resonate in Kenya, which is grappling with a significant and increasing burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs). According to a modeling study published by the NIH, an estimated 51% of Kenyan adults suffer from at least one NCD. Conditions such as hypertension and diabetes, which are often linked to obesity, are major drivers of this health crisis.

Data from the World Bank indicates that the prevalence of diabetes among Kenyan adults aged 20 to 79 was 3.1% in 2024. The International Diabetes Federation projected in 2021 that 2.3 million cases of diabetes in Kenya could rise to 3.5 million by 2045. Furthermore, NCDs are responsible for over half of all hospital admissions and 40% of hospital deaths in the country. A 2021 study found that 10% of Kenyan adults were generally obese, with 37% being centrally obese, conditions strongly associated with a higher risk of hypertension.

The high cost of existing weight-loss medications like Ozempic, which can range from KSh 50,000 to over KSh 100,000 per month in Nairobi, places them far beyond the reach of most Kenyans. This has led to a dangerous black market for counterfeit drugs, prompting warnings from Kenya's Pharmacy and Poisons Board (PPB).

A Shifting Global Market

Pfizer's acquisition of Metsera positions it to challenge the current duopoly of Novo Nordisk and US-based Eli Lilly, which currently dominate the global weight-loss drug market. This market is projected to reach between $95 billion and $200 billion by the early 2030s, according to various market analyses. The entry of a major player like Pfizer is expected to intensify competition, which could eventually lead to price reductions and expanded insurance coverage globally.

Pfizer has a long-standing presence in Kenya, with its East Africa headquarters in Nairobi. In January 2025, the company announced a reorganisation of its Kenyan operations to align with market dynamics. More recently, in June 2025, the Kenyan Ministry of Health partnered with Pfizer to launch the 'Accord for a Healthier World' initiative, aimed at providing Pfizer's portfolio of medicines and vaccines to the public health system on a not-for-profit basis.

The acquisition of Metsera's pipeline, which includes promising oral and injectable drug candidates, could eventually see new, potentially more affordable, and accessible obesity treatments become available in markets like Kenya through such existing partnerships. However, with the transaction expected to be dilutive to Pfizer's earnings through 2030 to fund further research, the immediate impact on local drug availability and pricing remains a long-term prospect. The development signals a critical shift in the global pharmaceutical landscape for metabolic diseases, one with significant, albeit distant, potential implications for Kenya's public health future.