Ascletis makes competitive entrance into oral GLP-1 race

The latest GLP-1 data from Ascletis, while early, puts the biotech’s oral small molecule firmly in the mix for best in class when it comes to efficacy in obesity.

Ascletis Pharma Inc. (HKEX:1672) rose 24% on Monday after announcing four-week data from the Phase Ib multiple-ascending dose trial for ASC30 in obese patients that showed up to 6.5% placebo-adjusted weight loss. The best efficacy was observed in the titration regimen that was dosed up to 40 mg by week four. That puts the GLP-1R agonist on par with the likes of orals CT-996 from Roche (SIX:ROG; OTCQX:RHHBY) and VK2735 from Viking Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ:VKTX). ...