The US obesity market is expected to double in size over the next decade with Novo Nordisk’s Saxenda driving the growth – but real progress for the pharmaceutical sector will only come when obesity drugs offer better outcomes than non-pharma methods.

Cancer Research Technology, the commercial arm of Cancer Research UK, has appointed Peter Chambré chair of the board. Mr Chambré is currently chairman of Xellia Pharmaceuticals and 7TM Pharma and a non-executive director of BTG and Spectris. He previously served as chief executive of Cambridge Antibody Technology Group and succeeds Melanie Lee who was CRT's chair from 2003.

Zealand Pharma, a Danish biopharmaceutical company developing innovative peptide drugs, has appointed Dr Arvind Hundal senior vice-president and chief business officer. Dr Hundal joined Zealand Pharma in August 2009 as vice-president of business development. Prior to that, she served as business development director for 7TM Pharma.

Astellas has begun considering strategic options for the future of its UK R&D subsidiary Prosidion, which it acquired last year as part of the purchase of OSI Pharmaceuticals but now apparently considers surplus to its core interests.