Roche's Dual Agonist Yields Impressive Weight Loss in Phase 1 Trial

Recently, Swiss pharmaceutical giant Roche announced promising results from the Phase I clinical trials of its new GLP-1/GIP dual agonist, CT-388. This innovative therapy has shown encouraging results, particularly in its potential for significant weight loss among subjects.

The data from the trials indicate that 45% of participants treated with CT-388 experienced a more than 20% reduction in body weight over a 24-week period, which is a noteworthy outcome. Additionally, every participant saw at least a 5% decrease in body weight, and 70% of them achieved a weight loss of more than 15%.

Another noteworthy aspect of CT-388 is that the weight loss effects did not plateau even after 24 weeks of treatment. This suggests that with longer-term treatment, patients might experience even greater weight loss. The anticipation for enhanced results is further fueled by an abstract set to be presented at the European Association for the Study of Diabetes annual meeting in September 2023, which suggests that the previously reported average weight loss of 18.8% may be just the beginning.

Roche has a historical background in developing GLP-1 receptor agonists. The company previously developed Taspoglutide, a GLP-1 agonist that entered Phase II clinical trials in 2008. However, the development was halted in 2011 due to safety concerns. With the acquisition of Carmot Therapeutics in 2023, Roche incorporated CT-388 into its research and development pipeline, signaling a renewed commitment to this promising therapeutic domain.

Dr. Manu Chakravarthy, the global head of Cardiovascular, Renal, and Metabolic Products Development at Roche, disclosed that the company intends to commence Phase II clinical trials of CT-388 in the latter half of 2024. This next phase of trials will not only assess the efficacy of CT-388 in terms of weight loss but will also explore its potential benefits for cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes.

The successful development of CT-388 could provide a new, effective treatment option for patients suffering from obesity and type 2 diabetes. The upcoming Phase II clinical trial results are being closely monitored by industry experts and stakeholders, who have high hopes for the future performance of this GLP-1/GIP dual agonist.