The results of the mid-term trial of Roche (RHHBY.US) weight loss injections were positive: an average weight loss of 15.5% in 48 weeks, and the glycemic index decreased by 2.65%

The Zhitong Finance App learned that Roche's (RHHBY.US) experimental weight loss injection enicepatide reduced blood sugar and body weight in overweight or obese type 2 diabetics at the same time in a mid-term trial. Roche said in a statement on Tuesday that patients treated with a maximum dose of 24 mg reduced glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c, blood sugar index) by 2.65% and lost an average weight of 15.5% after 48 weeks, and no plateau period was observed.

The Swiss pharmaceutical company is looking to compete with LLY.US (LLY.US) and Novo Nordisk (NVO.US). The drug is injected once a week and works similarly to Eli Lilly's Zepbound — by simultaneously activating GLP-1 and GIP hormones involved in metabolic regulation. The global weight loss medicine market is expected to reach 150 billion US dollars.

Roche plans to launch enicepatide's phase III study and cardiovascular outcome trial in the first half of 2027. Formerly known as CT-388, Enicepatide was initially developed by Carmot Therapeutics, and Roche bought the company for $3.1 billion in 2023.

Analysts Michael Shah and Christos Nikoletopoulos said in June that previous data showed that enicepatide was “as good as the competition” in terms of weight loss. They wrote that the drug is expected to be approved by 2030, with peak sales likely to reach $4 billion.

The most common side effects in the new trial were mild to moderate gastrointestinal reactions; only 2.0% of patients in the treatment group discontinued, compared to 0.0% in the placebo group.

Levi Garraway, Roche's chief medical officer and head of global product development, said: “Combined with continued weight loss, enicepatide is expected to be the best medicine to treat type 2 diabetes, reduce and prevent complications, and improve patients' metabolic health.”