[Ad hoc announcement pursuant to Art. 53 LR] Roche announces positive Phase II results for dual GLP-1/GIP receptor agonist enicepatide in people living with type 2 diabetes and overweight or obesity
- At the highest dose (24 mg), enicepatide achieved a mean HbA1c reduction of 2.65% at 48 weeks, highlighting its potential for best-in-disease glycemic control
- In patients with poor baseline glycemic control (HbA1c >8.5%), enicepatide 24 mg led to an HbA1c reduction of 4.13% at 48 weeks
- By week 48, 90% of patients in the 24 mg enicepatide arm met the T2D glycemic target of ≤6.5% HbA1c, while 62% achieved normoglycemia (HbA1c < 5.7%)
- At the highest 24 mg dose, enicepatide achieved a mean weight loss of 15.5% at 48 weeks, without a weight loss plateau
- Enicepatide demonstrated a safety and tolerability profile consistent with the incretin class, with low discontinuation rates and no new safety signals identified
Basel, 22 September 2026 - Roche (SIX: RO, ROP; OTCQX: RHHBY) today announced positive topline results from CT-388-104, a Phase II clinical trial evaluating enicepatide (CT-388), an investigational, once-weekly dual GLP-1/GIP receptor agonist, in adults living with type 2 diabetes (T2D) and overweight or obesity. In the study, enicepatide met both primary endpoints, delivering dose-dependent and clinically meaningful reductions in blood glucose and body weight at 48 weeks. Patients receiving the highest titrated dose (24 mg) achieved an HbA1c reduction of 2.65% (from a baseline HbA1c of 8.1%). Furthermore, 90% of patients in the 24 mg cohort reached an HbA1c level of ≤6.5% (diagnostic threshold for T2D) and 62% achieved normoglycemia (HbA1c < 5.7%), restoring blood glucose levels to a non-diabetic range. The mean weight loss at 48 weeks in the 24 mg enicepatide arm was 15.5% without a demonstrable plateau.
The safety and tolerability profile of enicepatide was consistent with other established incretin-based therapies, with the most common adverse events being predominantly mild-to-moderate gastrointestinal effects. In addition, the treatment discontinuation rate due to adverse events was low (2.0% in enicepatide arms; 0.0% in placebo arm).
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.
“We are highly encouraged by the efficacy demonstrated by enicepatide in this Phase II study, including the meaningful proportion of patients reaching normalised glucose levels within less than a year of treatment,” said Levi Garraway, M.D., Ph.D., Roche’s Chief Medical Officer and Head of Global Product Development. “Combined with sustained weight loss, enicepatide offers a potential best-in-disease profile capable of reducing and preventing complications as well as enhancing metabolic health for people living with type 2 diabetes.”
Roche is advancing a broad late-stage development program for enicepatide, including two ongoing Phase III studies in chronic weight management (ENITH-1 and ENITH-2) and plans to initiate a Phase III glycemic-control program and cardiovascular outcomes trials in the first half of 2027.
“These results reinforce our confidence in enicepatide and our ambition to rapidly advance its development for people living with obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease,” said Teresa Graham, Chief Executive Officer, Roche Pharmaceuticals. “As we expand into late-stage clinical studies and explore novel combinations, we are leveraging our integrated diagnostic and therapeutic expertise to build a competitive cardiometabolic portfolio — aiming to protect people from early metabolic dysfunction to advanced organ damage, ultimately reducing the global disease burden.”
About the enicepatide 104 Phase II study [NCT06628362]
The CT-388-104 study is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group, multi-center Phase II trial evaluating the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of once-weekly enicepatide administered subcutaneously for 48 weeks in 447 adults living with T2DM and overweight or obesity. The dual primary outcomes are changes from baseline in HbA1c and body weight at week 48.
About enicepatide
Enicepatide is an investigational once-weekly subcutaneous injectable, dually biased GLP-1/GIP receptor agonist in development for the treatment of obesity, type 2 diabetes, and additional cardiovascular indications. It aims to reduce appetite and regulate blood sugar by selectively targeting and activating both receptors which integrate nutrient-derived signals to control energy homeostasis. Enicepatide was designed to have potent activation of both GLP-1 and GIP receptors, but with minimal to no ß-arrestin recruitment on either receptor. This biased signalling significantly minimises receptor internalisation and consequent desensitisation, which is expected to lead to prolonged pharmacological activity.
About Obesity and T2D
Obesity and Type 2 diabetes are among the most urgent global public health challenges. Prevalence continues to rise, driving significant morbidity, disability and premature death.
Obesity is a major risk factor for T2D because excess body fat contributes significantly to insulin resistance and dysfunction of the cells that produce insulin. Consequently, people living with obesity are seven times more likely to develop T2D than those with a normal body mass index.
Diabetes is a condition that now affects nearly 600 million adults worldwide with T2D representing approximately 90% of cases with incidence rising fastest in low- and middle-income countries. Behind these growing numbers are people impacted by not only the ongoing daily management of diabetes, but its complications as well, such as blindness, kidney failure, strokes and even amputations.
One of the most serious health risks of diabetes is cardiovascular disease. People living with diabetes face a 2-4 times higher risk of hypertension, heart failure, stroke, and coronary artery disease than those without it. Prolonged high blood glucose silently damages blood vessels and nerves, making cardiovascular complications more likely, more frequent and more severe over time.
HbA1c (glycated hemoglobin) is measuring the average blood glucose levels over the past two to three months. HbA1c of 6.5% represents the clinical threshold for diagnosing diabetes, whereas normoglycemia (HbA1c less than 5.7%) represents non-diabetic blood glucose levels. An HbA1c level between 5.7% and 6.4% defines the prediabetes range.
About Roche
Roche (SIX: RO, ROP; OTCQX: RHHBY) is a healthcare company uniquely placed to prevent, stop and cure diseases by uniting leading science and technology across diagnostics, medicines and digital solutions.
Roche was founded in Basel, Switzerland in 1896 and today is a leading provider of transformative medicines and diagnostics for millions of people in over 150 countries around the world. It is dedicated to tackling healthcare challenges that place the greatest strain on patients, families, communities and healthcare systems. Across its Diagnostics and Pharmaceutical divisions, Roche focuses on areas including oncology, neurology, cardiovascular and metabolic diseases, ophthalmology, infectious diseases and immunology with the aim of providing real and positive change for patients, the people they love and the professionals who care for them.
Genentech in the United States is a fully owned subsidiary in the Roche Group. Roche is the majority shareholder in Chugai Pharmaceutical, a major innovator in the Japanese therapeutic antibody market.
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