Positive Phase 3 Trial Results for Ecnoglutide in Treating Chinese Adults with Type 2 Diabetes

A recent clinical trial of a drug called ecnoglutide, developed by Sciwind Biosciences, has shown promising results for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. The Phase 3 study involved 211 Chinese adults with inadequately controlled type 2 diabetes, who were randomly assigned to receive weekly injections of either 0.6 mg or 1.2 mg of ecnoglutide or a placebo for 24 weeks. The drug, a long-acting GLP-1 analog designed to have a cAMP signaling bias, demonstrated significant efficacy in reducing HbA1c levels, a key indicator of blood sugar control.

At the 24-week mark, patients who received 0.6 mg of ecnoglutide saw a 1.96% reduction in HbA1c levels from their baseline, while those who received 1.2 mg experienced a 2.43% reduction. This is in stark contrast to the 0.87% reduction observed in the placebo group. Furthermore, 76.1% of participants in the 1.2 mg group achieved HbA1c levels of 6.5% or lower, and 35.2% reached levels below 5.7%, both of which are considered good control of diabetes. The American Diabetes Association recommends an HbA1c target of less than 7% for individuals with diabetes.

In addition to the positive effects on blood sugar levels, ecnoglutide also led to significant reductions in body weight, with participants losing an average of 4.51% to 4.74% of their body weight after 24 weeks. This weight loss is an important factor in managing diabetes and related health risks.

Safety and tolerability were also assessed, with ecnoglutide proving to be safe and well-tolerated by the majority of participants. The most common side effects reported were gastrointestinal in nature, such as decreased appetite, diarrhea, and nausea, and were generally mild to moderate. Only a small number of participants, one from each treatment group, discontinued the study due to adverse events.

The positive outcomes of this trial are particularly encouraging when compared to the effects of other treatments, such as dual GLP-1/GIP analogs like tirzepatide. The CEO of Sciwind Biosciences, Hai Pan, expressed satisfaction with the results, highlighting the drug's cAMP signaling biased mechanism as a potential reason for its strong efficacy.

Ecnoglutide is also being evaluated in two other Phase 3 trials, one comparing it to dulaglutide in type 2 diabetes patients and another testing its effects in individuals who are overweight or obese. The results of these studies are expected to be released later in the year.

Sciwind Biosciences is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company dedicated to developing innovative treatments for metabolic diseases. Their pipeline includes several promising drug candidates, such as ecnoglutide, as well as other therapies for diabetes and obesity. The company's proprietary technologies include platforms for oral peptide and inhaled protein therapeutic delivery, which have been instrumental in identifying and developing their drug candidates.