Roche's Says Once-weekly Enicepatide Lowers Blood Sugar, Body Weight in Mid-stage Trial

05:47 AM EDT, 09/22/2026 (MT Newswires) -- Roche's (RO.SW) experimental weight-management drug enicepatide met the primary endpoints of a mid-stage study by helping patients reduce their blood sugar and body weight. The CT-388-104 phase 2 clinical trial assessed the efficacy of the once-weekly dual GLP-1/GIP receptor agonist in adults with type 2 diabetes and overweight or obesity. The study showed that patients administered with 24-milligram enicepatide, the highest titrated dose, showed a 2.65% reduction in blood sugar levels and a mean weight loss of 15.5% after 48 weeks, according to a Tuesday release. Additionally, 90% of patients in the 24-mg group achieved a blood sugar level of less than or equal to 6.5%, while 62% reached normal blood glucose levels. The safety and tolerability profile remained in line with other established incretin-based therapies. "The totality of data positions enicepatide, a unique dually biased GLP-1/GIP receptor agonist, as a differentiated molecule designed for potentially greater efficacy with a favorable safety profile," the company said while announcing the trial's results. Roche is conducting a late-stage development program for enicepatide, including two ongoing phase 3 trials in chronic weight management, with plans for a phase 3 glycemic-control program and cardiovascular outcomes studies in the first half of 2027. Roche's shares were slightly lower during early trading in Zürich.