Roche is speeding up its drug development to capture a larger share of the booming obesity treatment market.
July 30, 2024
Swiss pharmaceutical giant Roche announced it is accelerating the development of its weight loss drugs following promising early-stage trial data. The company’s two obesity drug candidates, CT-388 and CT-996, are moving forward in their trials and could provide a pill-based alternative to Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy and Eli Lilly’s Zepbound weight loss injections, according to CNBC.
Roche’s CT-388 drug is entering phase two trials after showing an 18.8% weight loss over 24 weeks, compared to a placebo, as reported by Fox Business. Meanwhile, CT-996 will begin phase two trials next year, having demonstrated a 6.1% weight loss in obese patients without Type 2 diabetes during initial tests, according to CNBC. Both drugs were acquired from U.S. biotech company Carmot Therapeutics earlier this year, as noted by Euronews.
CEO Thomas Schinecker emphasized the company’s commitment to fast-tracking these medications, with potential market entry by 2028, according to CNBC. Schinecker highlighted the competitive edge Roche aims to achieve by offering a suite of next-generation GLP-1/GIP drugs that could stand out in the lucrative weight management market, projected to grow significantly in the coming years, as reported by Fox Business.
Roche’s strategy involves leveraging the scalability of its synthetically produced drugs and restructuring its portfolio to focus on high-demand areas such as Alzheimer’s and weight loss treatments, according to Euronews. The company is also exploring combinations with other drugs to enhance the effectiveness of its obesity treatments, like GYM329, which counters muscle loss during weight reduction, as reported by Fox Business.
This acceleration follows a trend in the industry, as other companies like Pfizer and Hims & Hers Health Inc. also move quickly to capture market share from established players Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly. Analysts predict the global obesity drug market could reach $144 billion by 2030, highlighting the high stakes involved, according to Fox Business.
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