Roche's Weight Loss Pill: Promising Early Results with Caveats

Roche's experimental weight-loss pill, CT-996, showed promising early-stage trial results, causing shares to rise. However, findings were based on just six patients in the most successful subgroup. The company plans larger trials next year and acquired Carmot, the drug's developer, to compete with Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly's weight-loss injections.

Roche announced promising early-stage trial results for its experimental weight-loss pill, CT-996, boosting its shares. However, the results are based on data from just six patients, highlighting the uncertainty of the project.

The Swiss pharmaceutical giant revealed in July that the once-daily pill resulted in a 6.1% placebo-adjusted weight loss over four weeks in obese, non-diabetic patients. The published slides showed that while the trial included 25 participants overall, the most favorable results were specific to a subgroup of six patients.

Roche plans to commence larger Phase II trials next year. The initial trial followed a faster dosage increase, known as titration, to detect side effects early. The company recently acquired Carmot, the drug's developer, for $2.7 billion to compete with weight-loss injection makers Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly.

(With inputs from agencies.)