Ascletis Pharma's Oral GLP-1 Shows Promise in Obesity Treatment

Ascletis Pharma, a Chinese biotech company, has made significant strides in the competitive field of obesity drug development with its oral GLP-1 receptor agonist, ASC30. The company recently published data from a multiple ascending dose study, demonstrating promising results in weight loss efficacy.

Phase 1 Study Results

The phase 1 study, conducted at a site in Utah, enrolled 20 patients across two cohorts. Sixteen participants received escalating doses of ASC30, while four received placebo. The study showed:

• Cohort two (2 mg to 40 mg dosing) achieved a mean body weight loss of 6.3% after 28 days
• Cohort one (2 mg to 20 mg dosing) showed a mean weight loss of 4.3% after 28 days
• A clear dose response was observed between the two cohorts

The average daily doses were 9.25 mg and 18 mg for cohort one and cohort two, respectively. Ascletis reported that ASC30 was generally well-tolerated, with all gastrointestinal-related adverse events being mild or moderate. Importantly, no clinically significant changes in liver enzymes were observed.

Competitive Landscape

Ascletis' results appear competitive within the burgeoning obesity treatment market:

• Roche's oral GLP-1 candidate CT-996 showed 6.1% weight loss after 28 days
• Eli Lilly's orforglipron achieved 3.9% weight loss
• Novo Nordisk's amycretin resulted in 4% weight loss
• Pfizer's danuglipron demonstrated 5.2% weight loss

However, differences in trial designs and small patient numbers make direct comparisons challenging. Longer trials are expected to yield improved efficacy data, as evidenced by Novo Nordisk's amycretin, which showed 13.1% weight loss after 12 weeks.

Ascletis' Obesity Pipeline

Ascletis is pursuing a multi-pronged approach to obesity treatment:

1. ASC30: Oral and weekly injectable formulations of the GLP-1 receptor agonist
2. ASC47: A muscle-preserving weight loss drug candidate

The company is also exploring combination therapies, testing ASC47 with established treatments like Eli Lilly's tirzepatide (Zepbound) and Novo Nordisk's semaglutide (Wegovy). This strategy aligns with industry trends, as leading companies are developing similar combination approaches to enhance weight loss while preserving muscle mass.

As Ascletis continues to advance its obesity pipeline, the pharmaceutical industry watches closely. The company's swift progress and competitive data position it as a potential key player in the rapidly evolving obesity treatment landscape.