Roche Highlights Encouraging Data From Newly-Acquired Second Weight Loss Drug Candidate In Early-Stage Study

Wednesday, Roche Holdings AG (OTC:RHHBY) announced topline results from two arms of an ongoing multi-part Phase 1 clinical trial for CT-996 for type 2 diabetes and obesity.

CT-996 is an investigational, once-daily oral small molecule GLP-1 receptor agonist being developed for type 2 diabetes and obesity.

Also Read: Roche’s New Immunotherapy Fails To Show Benefit Over Merck’s Blockbuster Keytruda In Lung Cancer Patients.

The data showed that treatment with CT-996 in participants with obesity and without type 2 diabetes resulted in a clinically meaningful placebo-adjusted mean weight loss of -6.1% within four weeks.

Roche added CT-996 when it acquired Carmot Therapeutics for $2.7 billion in cash. Additionally, Carmot’s equity holders are entitled to receive payments of up to $400 million depending on achieving certain milestones. 

More than four billion people – about 50% of the world’s population – are estimated to be impacted by obesity or will be overweight by 2035.

CT-996 was well tolerated, with mostly mild or moderate gastrointestinal-related adverse events, consistent with the safety profile of the incretin drug class.

There were no treatment discontinuations related to the study drug.

The study results also showed that blood levels of CT-996 were largely unaffected either during fasting or after a standardized high-fat meal.

Thus, CT-996 could potentially be dosed without regard to meal timing, thereby affording greater dosing flexibility for patients.

Based on the study data, CT-996 is anticipated to be used as a therapy for achieving glycaemic control and inducing weight loss and potentially for oral weight maintenance therapy following weight loss induced by injectables.

Price Action: RHHBY shares closed at $36.27 on Tuesday.

Photo via Shutterstock

Read Next:

• Roche To Ride Booming Obesity Treatment Market With Newly-Acquired Drug Candidate.