After four weeks of treatment, CT-996 demonstrated clinically meaningful weight loss of -7.3% (weight loss in placebo -1.2%; p < 0.001)
Pharmacokinetic data supports a once-daily oral dosing regimen for CT-996
The safety and tolerability profile was consistent with other oral GLP-1 receptor agonists and no unexpected safety signals were observed
Basel, 17 July 2024 - Roche (SIX: RO, ROG; OTCQX: RHHBY) announced today positive topline results from two arms of an ongoing multi-part Phase I clinical trial for CT-996, an investigational, once-daily, oral small molecule GLP-1 receptor agonist being developed for the treatment of both type 2 diabetes and obesity.1 The data showed that treatment with CT-996 in participants with obesity and without type 2 diabetes resulted in a clinically meaningful placebo-adjusted mean weight loss of -6.1% within four weeks (p <0.001). The full study data will be presented at an upcoming medical meeting.
Obesity is one of the most urgent health challenges in the world with extensive comorbidities, such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, liver disease, and chronic kidney disease.2 More than four billion people - about 50% of the world’s population - are estimated to be impacted by obesity or will be overweight by 2035.
"We are pleased to see the clinically meaningful weight loss in people treated with our oral GLP-1 therapy CT-996, which could eventually help patients address both chronic weight management and glycaemic control indications,” said Levi Garraway, M.D., Ph.D., Roche’s Chief Medical Officer and Head of Global Product Development. “Following our data for CT-388, this is the second positive readout in less than three months from our growing metabolic pipeline, which includes both oral and injectable options to address patients' needs across a spectrum of related diseases."
CT-996 was well tolerated, with mostly mild or moderate gastrointestinal-related adverse events, consistent with the safety profile of the incretin drug class. There were no treatment discontinuations related to the study drug.1 The study results also showed that blood levels of CT-996 were largely unaffected either during fasting or after a standardised high-fat meal. Thus, CT-996 could potentially be dosed without regard to meal timing, thereby affording greater dosing flexibility for patients.1 Based on the study data, CT-996 is anticipated to be used not only as a therapy for achieving glycaemic control and inducing weight loss, but also potentially for oral weight maintenance therapy following weight loss induced by injectables.
Despite numerous approved treatments, the trajectory for people with obesity or its comorbidities has not changed significantly; these conditions remain underdiagnosed and undertreated so their impact on society continues to grow.5 Oral and injectable incretin modalities are critical to address the high unmet need. They may not only offer broader access to patients living with obesity, but together, they could also support the prevention of obesity-related comorbidities or complications such as type 2 diabetes and heart disease among many others.
About CT-996 study
The CT-996-201 trial (NCT05814107) is a multi-part, multi-cohort Phase I randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, single- and multiple- ascending dose study designed to evaluate the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of CT-996 in otherwise-healthy adults who are overweight or obese, with and without type 2 diabetes. Part 1 was a single ascending dose in 40 participants with overweight or obesity (completed); part 2 was a multiple ascending dose in three sequential cohorts of a total of 25 participants with obesity without type 2 diabetes (completed); part 3 is a multiple ascending dose study in two sequential cohorts of 30 participants with obesity and type 2 diabetes (planned to be initiated in Q4 2024). The primary endpoint of the trial is safety and tolerability of CT-996; secondary endpoints include the assessment of the pharmacokinetics of CT-996, along with its effect on body weight and glucose homeostasis. Based on the current Phase I results, CT-996 will advance into Phase II clinical development.
About CT-996
Affecting around 29 million people globally, diabetic macular edema (DME) is a vision- CT-996 is an investigational, once-daily, oral small molecule GLP-1 receptor agonist being developed for the treatment of both type 2 diabetes and obesity.7 Unlike the endogenous GLP-1 hormone, CT-996 is specifically designed to be a biased GLP-1 receptor agonist that activates cAMP signalling with minimal-to-no beta-arrestin recruitment. These finely-tuned signalling properties are expected to lead to strong glycaemic control, significant weight loss and good tolerability.
About Roche’s metabolism portfolio
Obesity is a heterogeneous disease and our R&D portfolio of incretin-based clinical and preclinical assets has great potential to address patients’ needs by providing treatments as mono and combination therapy for obesity, diabetes and various other cardiometabolic indications. We are developing a broad portfolio of foundational assets that range from orals to injectables, as well as molecules with new modes of action to address the multiple needs of patients living with obesity. Our differentiated incretin portfolio includes:
CT-388, an investigational dual GLP-1/GIP receptor agonist for the treatment of obesity in patients with and without type 2 diabetes, currently in Phase II.
Injected subcutaneously once a week, it is being developed both as a standalone and possibly also in combination, and has the potential to be a best in class therapy for chronic weight management, type 2 diabetes, and could be expanded to other indications.
CT-996, an investigational, once-daily, oral small molecule GLP-1 receptor agonist being developed for the treatment of both type 2 diabetes and obesity, currently in Phase I, with the potential to be a best-in-class oral treatment for type 2 diabetes and chronic weight management.
CT-868, an investigational, once-daily, subcutaneously injected dual GLP-1/GIP receptor agonist currently in Phase II with the potential to be a first in class treatment for glycaemic control as an adjunct to insulin in patients living with type 1 diabetes.
Incretins are gut hormones secreted after food intake that play a role in modulating blood glucose by stimulating insulin secretion and suppress appetite. Emerging scientific data show a wider biologic effect of incretins in multiple organs including the liver, heart and brain, suggesting they may have a broader role in the body beyond glucose modulation. Over the past few years, incretins have been clinically validated as targets and are now the emerging standard of care therapies in obesity, but could also be effective in other metabolic indications, as well as in cardiovascular and chronic kidney disease.
About Roche
Roche is a global pioneer in pharmaceuticals and diagnostics focused on advancing science to improve people’s lives. The combined strengths of pharmaceuticals and diagnostics under one roof have made Roche the leader in personalised healthcare – a strategy that aims to fit the right treatment to each patient in the best way possible.
Roche is the world’s largest biotech company, with truly differentiated medicines in oncology, immunology, infectious diseases, ophthalmology and diseases of the central nervous system. Roche is also the world leader in in vitro diagnostics and tissue-based cancer diagnostics, and a frontrunner in diabetes management.
Founded in 1896, Roche continues to search for better ways to prevent, diagnose and treat diseases and make a sustainable contribution to society. The company also aims to improve patient access to medical innovations by working with all relevant stakeholders. More than thirty medicines developed by Roche are included in the World Health Organization Model Lists of Essential Medicines, among them life-saving antibiotics, antimalarials and cancer medicines. Moreover, for the twelfth consecutive year, Roche has been recognised as one of the most sustainable companies in the Pharmaceuticals Industry by the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices (DJSI).
The Roche Group, headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, is active in over 100 countries and in 2020 employed more than 100,000 people worldwide. In 2020, Roche invested CHF 12.2 billion in R&D and posted sales of CHF 58.3 billion. Genentech, in the United States, is a wholly owned member of the Roche Group. Roche is the majority shareholder in Chugai Pharmaceutical, Japan