Biotech
Thursday, May 16th, 2024 4:59 pm EDT
Key Points
- Roche’s experimental weight loss drug, CT-388, displayed promising results in an early-stage trial, bolstering the company’s position in the competitive obesity treatment market.
- The acquisition of Carmot Therapeutics for nearly $3 billion in December signifies Roche’s strategic move to develop obesity drugs, with CT-388 being a key asset. However, the drug is still in the early stages and years away from commercialization.
- CT-388 demonstrated significant efficacy in the phase one trial, with patients experiencing an average weight loss of 18.8%, and all recipients losing over 5% of their weight. Moreover, the drug mimics the effects of gut hormones GLP-1 and GIP to suppress appetite, potentially offering benefits for both obesity and diabetes management.
Roche announced promising results from an early-stage trial of its experimental weight loss drug, CT-388, marking a significant stride in its endeavor to penetrate the burgeoning obesity treatment market. Acquired through its nearly $3 billion takeover of Carmot Therapeutics in December, the drug is poised to challenge established players like Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly in a market projected to reach $100 billion by the decade’s end. In the phase one trial, CT-388 demonstrated notable efficacy, with patients experiencing an average weight loss of 18.8% relative to those who received a placebo over 24 weeks. Impressively, all recipients of the drug shed over 5% of their weight, with 70% achieving a weight loss exceeding 15% and 45% surpassing 20%. CT-388’s mechanism involves mimicking the effects of gut hormones GLP-1 and GIP to suppress appetite, akin to Eli Lilly’s Zepbound and Mounjaro injections. Roche aims to address both obesity and diabetes with this drug. Notably, the trial reported no new or unexpected side effects, with mild to moderate gastrointestinal issues being the most common, aligning with similar medications. Moreover, CT-388 normalized blood sugar levels in a subgroup of patients with pre-diabetes. Roche is currently evaluating CT-388 in an expanded cohort of patients with obesity and diabetes over 12 weeks, with data expected in the latter half of the year. This announcement marks Roche’s significant stride towards establishing its presence in the competitive obesity treatment landscape, potentially offering patients a promising new option for weight loss management.
For the full original article on CNBC, please click here: https://www.cnbc.com/2024/05/16/roche-weight-loss-drug-shows-promising-results-in-early-trial.html
