Ascletis Successfully Completes Dosing in U.S. Obesity Study with Novel Drug Combination

Ascletis Completes Participant Dosing in U.S. Clinical Study for Obesity Treatment

In a significant milestone for obesity research, Ascletis Pharma Inc. recently announced the successful completion of dosing for all participants in its U.S.-based clinical trial. This study is pioneering the combination of ASC47, an adipose-targeted small molecule THRβ agonist, with Semaglutide, a medication recognized for its effectiveness in weight management.

Study Overview

The ASC47-103 study involved 28 participants suffering from obesity and aimed to examine the safety, tolerability, and preliminary efficacy by Day 29 after a single dose of ASC47 combined with four weekly doses of Semaglutide. This innovative combination is anticipated to promote a more potent effect on weight reduction when compared to existing therapies.

The initial phase of the trial commenced in May 2025 and witnessed an impressive enrollment speed, where all candidates were recruited within a mere two months. According to Dr. Jinzi J. Wu, CEO of Ascletis, this quick enrollment underscores the pressing need for novel obesity treatments and highlights the promising potential of combination therapies in this domain.

Drug Mechanism and Efficacy

ASC47 has demonstrated unique properties, particularly its ability to seek out and concentrate within adipose tissue, achieving peak concentrations that significantly impact fat reduction. Preclinical studies in diet-induced obese (DIO) mouse models indicated that ASC47 leads to more substantial loss of fat mass compared to Semaglutide (63.5% vs. 39.6%) and also outperforms Tirzepatide (68.0% vs. 50.4%). This compelling data supports the hypothesis that ASC47 could become a formidable player in obesity management.

Furthermore, ASC47 boasts a remarkable half-life of up to 40 days. This extended pharmacokinetic profile enables infrequent dosing, potentially enhancing patient compliance and therapeutic outcomes.

In direct comparisons, combining ASC47 with Semaglutide resulted in a 56.7% greater reduction in body weight, alongside notable muscle preservation, marking a significant advancement over Semaglutide alone.

Future Expectations

Topline data from the trial are expected to be released in the fourth quarter of 2025, which could herald a new era in obesity treatment strategies. The clinical results will provide valuable insights into how this combination therapy may alter the therapeutic landscape for individuals struggling with obesity in conjunction with the absence of type 2 diabetes.

About Ascletis Pharma Inc.

Ascletis Pharma Inc. operates as a fully integrated biotechnology firm dedicated to developing groundbreaking therapeutics for metabolic disorders. Utilizing its proprietary Artificial Intelligence-Assisted Structure-Based Drug Discovery (AISBDD) and Ultra-Long-Acting Platform (ULAP), the company has generated a pipeline of innovative drug candidates, including ASC30, a GLP-1R agonist targeting weight management as a once-daily oral and a once-monthly injectable formulation.

In summary, Ascletis's initiative in combining ASC47 and Semaglutide highlights the company's commitment to advancing metabolic therapies. With the successful dosing of participants in this trial, the anticipation mounts for the forthcoming results, which could significantly influence future approaches to obesity treatment.

For more information, visit Ascletis.