Stock Markets January 27, 2026

Roche’s CT-388 Produces Large Placebo-Adjusted Weight Loss in Phase II; Phase III Set to Begin This Quarter

Dual GLP-1/GIP receptor agonist achieved a 22.5% placebo-adjusted reduction at 48 weeks and showed a safety profile consistent with its drug class

By Avery Klein
Roche’s CT-388 Produces Large Placebo-Adjusted Weight Loss in Phase II; Phase III Set to Begin This Quarter

Roche announced positive Phase II findings for CT-388, a dual GLP-1/GIP receptor agonist for people living with obesity. The investigational therapy delivered a 22.5% placebo-adjusted weight loss at 48 weeks and saw 54% of participants on the 24 mg dose reach resolution of obesity. Safety and tolerability were reported as generally consistent with the drug class, with no new or unexpected safety signals. Roche plans to initiate Phase III trials this quarter, and full study results will be presented at an upcoming medical congress.

Key Points

  • CT-388 produced a 22.5% placebo-adjusted weight loss at 48 weeks in a Phase II trial.
  • On the 24 mg dose, 54% of participants achieved resolution of obesity.
  • Roche reported no new or unexpected safety signals and described adverse events as mild-to-moderate; full results will be presented at a medical congress and Phase III is expected to start this quarter.

Roche Holding AG reported positive Phase II outcomes for CT-388, its investigational dual GLP-1/GIP receptor agonist for people living with obesity. Company data show a 22.5% placebo-adjusted weight loss at the 48-week mark, and a majority response on the highest evaluated dose.

In the trial, 54% of participants receiving the 24 mg dose achieved resolution of obesity. The announcement highlights both the magnitude of weight reduction and the proportion of subjects who reached a clinically meaningful threshold at that dose level.

Safety and tolerability

Roche said CT-388 demonstrated a safety and tolerability profile that was generally in line with expectations for this class of therapies. The company reported no new or unexpected safety signals and characterized adverse events as mild to moderate. Those statements indicate that, within the Phase II population, the drug did not reveal safety concerns beyond what is typical for GLP-1/GIP receptor agonists.

Next steps and data dissemination

The company plans to present the full set of Phase II results at an upcoming medical congress, where more detailed efficacy and safety data will be disclosed. Roche also indicated that it expects to initiate the CT-388 Phase III development program this quarter.


Implications for sectors

  • Healthcare and pharmaceutical development: Positive Phase II efficacy and a favourable tolerability statement support further clinical advancement into late-stage testing.
  • Biotechnology: Progression to Phase III may influence R&D planning and competitive positioning among companies developing obesity treatments.

Limitations of the announced information

The company has not yet released the full dataset in the public domain; detailed efficacy breakdowns, subgroup analyses, and complete safety tables are pending presentation at the medical congress. Additionally, while Roche has indicated a Phase III start this quarter, outcomes of those future trials are not reported and remain to be seen.

Risks

  • Full study data have not yet been disclosed; additional efficacy and safety details will be revealed only at the upcoming medical congress - this creates short-term data uncertainty for stakeholders - impacts healthcare and biotech sectors.
  • Phase II success does not guarantee Phase III outcomes; the planned initiation of Phase III this quarter introduces later-stage clinical risk until those trials report results - impacts pharmaceutical development and biotechnology investment decisions.
  • Safety and tolerability observations are reported as consistent with the drug class in Phase II, but broader or rarer safety issues could emerge in larger populations during Phase III - affects clinical development risk in healthcare.

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