Roche Holding (SIX:ROG) AG Genussscheine (SWX:ROG) has reported encouraging results from a small Phase 1 trial of its obesity pill, CT-996, showing a 7.3% body weight reduction over four weeks with daily administration – a 6.1 percentage point difference compared to the placebo group.
These findings come two months after Roche revealed another obesity drug in its pipeline, which showed a 19% weight reduction over six months.
Both drugs emerged from Roche’s $2.7 billion acquisition of Carmot Therapeutics Ltd, reflecting the company’s strategic move into a market projected to exceed $100 billion annually by the next decade.
Competition heats up
The first half of 2024 has seen a surge in data from companies developing obesity treatments, vying to compete with Novo Nordisk (CSE:NOVOb) (NYSE:NVO)’s Wegovy and Eli Lilly’s Zepbound.
Wegovy and Zepbound are known for addressing obesity-related complications such as heart disease and sleep apnoea, setting a high standard for new entrants.
However, a potential competitive edge for Roche and others could be offering oral alternatives to the currently injectable treatments. Roche, Pfizer (NYSE:PFE), and Viking Therapeutics (NASDAQ:VKTX) are among the companies developing oral obesity medications, while Novo and Lilly also have late-stage oral drugs.
Another advantage Roche found was that no participants discontinued its second drug due to side effects, which is a common issue with existing treatments like Wegovy and Zepbound.
The trial for CT-996 evaluated the pill’s safety, tolerability and biological activity. It involved obese participants without diabetes, with future trials planned for those with diabetes. Besides significant weight loss, Roche reported that the drug supports once-daily use without being impacted by high-fat meals or fasting, indicating flexible dosing times.
Roche described the 7.3% weight loss as “clinically meaningful,” though this needs validation through longer trials.
Notably, Wegovy and Zepbound achieved approval following year-long studies.
Roche’s move into obesity drugs is notable given its limited prior engagement in metabolic medicine. The results from CT-996, alongside its strategic acquisition of Carmot, highlight the company’s commitment to competing in this growing market.