Ascletis Pharma Inc. (Ascletis) unveiled three data packages at the American Diabetes Association 2026 Scientific Sessions that reinforce the breadth of its obesity franchise across small-molecule and peptide modalities.
ASC39 – Oral Amylin Receptor Agonist • In vitro, ASC39 matched the amylin-receptor selectivity of injectable eloralintide while displaying minimal activity at the calcitonin receptor, a profile aimed at reducing nausea and excessive appetite suppression. • Diet-induced obese rats dosed once-daily for 11 days achieved a 9.90 % body-weight reduction at 5 mg/kg versus 2.80 % for placebo (p<0.01). • Head-to-head, daily oral ASC39 (5 mg/kg) and eloralintide injected every three days produced comparable weight loss by Day 7 (-6.00 % vs. ‑5.00 %; both p<0.0001), whereas placebo animals gained 0.60 %.
ASC30 – Oral Small-Molecule GLP-1 Receptor Agonist • ASC30 is 2- to 3-fold more potent than orforglipron (OFG) in vitro and delivered ~5-fold higher oral exposure in non-human primates (NHPs). • Phase I results in participants with obesity showed dose-proportional pharmacokinetics (2 mg–60 mg) and no liver enzyme elevations. • In a 13-week Phase II study (n=125), placebo-adjusted mean weight reductions were 5.40 % (20 mg), 7.00 % (40 mg) and 7.70 % (60 mg) without a plateau. Weekly titration halved vomiting rates versus OFG’s weekly scheme, and all gastrointestinal adverse events were grade 1–2. No drug-related serious adverse events were reported. • Two global 72-week Phase III trials are slated to start by the end of Q3 2026, testing once-daily tablets at 20 mg, 40 mg and 60 mg maintenance doses.
ASC37 – Oral GLP-1R/GIPR/GCGR Triple Agonist Peptide Enabled by POTENT Technology • The proprietary Peptide Oral Transport ENhancement Technology (POTENT) boosts peptide bioavailability to roughly 3–5 %. • In NHPs, POTENT increased semaglutide’s oral bioavailability three-fold and tirzepatide’s nine-fold versus SNAC formulations. • ASC37 tablets achieved 4.20 % absolute bioavailability—about 30-fold higher than tirzepatide and 60-fold higher than retatrutide in SNAC form—and exhibited a 56-hour half-life, supporting once-daily or less frequent dosing.
The collective data demonstrate Ascletis’ strategy of advancing differentiated oral agents across multiple hormonal pathways in obesity and related metabolic disorders. A Rule 18A.05 statement notes that successful development and commercialization of ASC30, ASC37 and ASC39 are not guaranteed.
Comments