Roche’s experimental drug enicepatide demonstrates strong efficacy in reducing blood sugar and body weight in adults with type 2 diabetes and obesity, strengthening its position in the competitive metabolic market.
Roche has reported encouraging Phase II results for enicepatide, its injectable dual GLP-1/GIP receptor agonist, in adults with type 2 diabetes who were overweight or living with obesity. In the company’s latest update, the drug met both primary endpoints of the CT-388-104 trial, cutting blood sugar and reducing body weight over 48 weeks.
At the highest dose, patients saw average HbA1c fall by 2.65 percentage points from a baseline of 8.1%, according to Roche. HbA1c reflects average blood sugar over several months. The company said 90% of participants on that dose reached 6.5% or lower, the threshold used to diagnose type 2 diabetes, while 62% moved into the normal range of below 5.7%.
Weight loss also remained substantial, with patients on the top dose losing 15.5% of body weight on average and showing no clear plateau, suggesting the effect had not yet levelled off by the end of the study. Roche said the safety profile was in line with other incretin-based therapies, although 2% of patients on treatment stopped because of side effects.
The results strengthen Roche’s bid to compete in a market dominated by Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly. The group acquired Carmot Therapeutics for $2.7 billion in 2023, making enicepatide a central asset in its metabolic portfolio. Roche chief medical officer Levi Garraway said the number of patients reaching normal glucose levels could translate into better long-term metabolic health and fewer complications, while chief executive Theresa Graham said the findings support advancing the programme quickly into late-stage development.
Roche is already testing enicepatide in two Phase III studies for chronic weight management, called ENITH-1 and ENITH-2. The company also plans a late-stage trial focused on glycaemic control and cardiovascular outcomes in the first half of 2027. Analysts have been watching the drug closely after earlier data at the American Diabetes Association meeting suggested weight loss could continue beyond 48 weeks, with Roche indicating that higher or longer dosing might produce further gains.
Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical judgment, advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
