Ascletis Pharma trial shows drug candidate ASC47 boosts weight loss effect of semaglutide
Chinese biotech firm is among dozens of mainland drug makers seeking to compete in the global market for diabetes and weight-loss drugs
That finding came from a trial that Ascletis conducted in the US for 28 participants with obesity, which aimed to assess the drug candidate’s safety and ideal dose, according to the company’s statement on Monday. The treatment duration was four weeks and the follow-up period was six weeks.
When used in combination with semaglutide, ASC47 showed a 56 per cent greater relative reduction in body weight than using semaglutide alone, the company said.
ASC47 also offered “substantial” improvement in gastrointestinal tolerability, the company said. The study saw a 6.7 per cent incidence of vomiting when used jointly with semaglutide, compared with 57 per cent for semaglutide monotherapy.
