Roche's New Weight-Loss Drug Shows 21% Fat Loss with Few Side Effects

Roche has released promising results from its latest weight-loss drug trial. The experimental treatment, petrelintide, helped participants lose over 10 percent of their body weight by week 42. Unlike similar medications, it caused almost no nausea or vomiting during the study.

The company now plans further trials, including a Phase III study later this year.

In the STEP-UP trial, petrelintide showed strong weight-loss effects with fewer side effects than existing drugs. Participants on the highest dose lost an average of 21 percent of their baseline weight. This compares to up to 15 percent for standard Wegovy and 22 percent for Zepbound at peak doses in separate studies.

Nausea, a common issue with GLP-1 drugs, was rare with petrelintide. It nearly vanished once patients reached the maintenance dose, and no vomiting occurred in any treatment group. In fact, vomiting rates were lower than in the placebo group.

Discontinuation rates also favoured petrelintide. Only 4.8 percent of the highest-dose group stopped due to side effects, matching the placebo rate of 4.9 percent. Overall, 8.4 percent left the petrelintide arms, compared to 13.6 percent in the control group. Women in the study experienced greater weight loss than men.

Roche will now combine petrelintide with its lead compound, CT-388, in a Phase II trial. A larger Phase III study is planned for later this year, with additional data from the Zupreme-2 trial expected in the second half of 2024.

The results position petrelintide as a potential competitor to existing weight-loss drugs. Its effectiveness, combined with minimal side effects, could offer a new option for patients. Roche's upcoming trials will provide further clarity on its long-term benefits and safety.