Roche reports positive Phase II results for experimental obesity drug

Roche said its once-weekly injection CT-388 produced placebo-adjusted weight loss of 22.5% in a Phase II trial and the company expects to start Phase III trials this quarter.

Roche announced on Jan. 27 that its experimental once-weekly injection CT-388 produced positive Phase II results. The company described the safety profile as well tolerated and said the drug achieved substantial placebo-adjusted weight loss. Roche acquired related dual GLP-1/GIP technology through its $2.7 billion purchase of Carmot Therapeutics in late 2023 as part of its broader obesity programme. The company says it has multiple candidates in development and plans to begin Phase III testing this quarter. Key points: - CT-388 is an experimental once-weekly injection targeting GLP-1 and GIP pathways. - The Phase II study reported placebo-adjusted weight loss of 22.5% and said no weight-loss plateau was reached at 48 weeks. - Roche described the safety profile as well tolerated in the study announcement. - The article mentions Roche acquired Carmot Therapeutics for $2.7 billion in late 2023 to gain dual GLP-1/GIP technology. - The article mentions that Roche aims to compete with established firms such as Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly in a market some analysts estimate could reach $150 billion annually by the early 2030s. - Roche says it has six obesity-related candidates in trials and expects some could be launched by 2030. Summary: The Phase II findings advance Roche's clinical development programme for obesity treatments and set the company on track to begin Phase III trials soon. Full study results are scheduled to be presented at an upcoming medical congress. Further clinical and regulatory milestones will follow as the programme moves into later-stage testing.