Ascletis Reports Preclinical Data for Once-Weekly Oral Obesity Drug ASC36o, Shares Up 1%

Ascletis Pharma Inc. (1672.HK, ASCLF.PK) reported preclinical data for ASC36o, a once-weekly oral amylin receptor peptide agonist in development for obesity and metabolic diseases. In non-human primates, ASC36o showed a half-life of roughly 7 days and oral bioavailability of 6% to 8%, supporting once-weekly dosing, the company said. Building on ASC36o, Ascletis developed two once-weekly oral fixed-dose combinations: ASC36_37o FDC (amylin/GLP-1/GIP/GCG) and ASC36_35o FDC (amylin/GLP-1/GIP). In a head-to-head study in diet-induced obesity rats, ASC36 achieved 32% and 91% greater weight reduction than eloralintide and petrelintide, respectively. ASC36o is in a U.S. Phase I study, with topline pharmacokinetic data expected by the end of 2026. The stock is up 1.03% at HK$5.91, within a 52-week range of HK$5.40 to HK$19.86.