Roche reports up to 22.5 per cent weight loss with experimental obesity drug
Roche has announced promising results from a mid-stage clinical trial of its experimental obesity treatment, CT-388, as the company looks to strengthen its position in an increasingly competitive obesity medicines market.
In a Phase II trial, participants receiving the highest dose of CT-388 achieved an average placebo-adjusted weight loss of up to 22.5 per cent after 48 weeks of treatment, based on those who fully adhered to the treatment regimen. When participants who did not strictly follow the dosing schedule were also included, placebo-adjusted weight loss was 18.3 per cent. Roche said that longer treatment duration could potentially lead to greater weight reduction.
CT-388 is a once-weekly injectable dual GLP-1/GIP receptor agonist, designed to regulate blood glucose levels and reduce appetite. It belongs to the same class of medicines as tirzepatide, marketed as Zepbound and Mounjaro, which currently leads the market.
The drug was acquired through Roche’s 2.7 billion US dollar purchase of US-based biotech company Carmot Therapeutics in 2023. Roche confirmed that the Phase II results, based on the highest of five doses tested, supported the design of two larger Phase III trials, which are expected to begin this quarter.
Roche has stated that the absence of a plateau in weight loss and the continued linear reduction observed over the 48-week period suggest the potential for higher efficacy with ongoing treatment. The company says these findings reinforce its long-term commitment to developing therapies for obesity and related cardiometabolic conditions.
The pharmaceutical company currently has six drug candidates in clinical development targeting obesity and associated conditions such as type 2 diabetes and hypertension. Roche anticipates that several of these treatments could reach the market by 2030, with up to three forecast to achieve annual sales exceeding 1 billion US dollars.
The global obesity medicines market is expected by some analysts to grow substantially over the coming decade, with estimates suggesting it could reach up to 150 billion US dollars annually by the early 2030s.