Obesity Update: ASC30’s Ultra-Long Dosing, Oral GLP-1 Pill Race, Korea Stockouts & More
From Ascletis’ ASC30 half-life data and Aphaia Pharma’s Phase II dosing to Novo Nordisk’s workforce shift—this week’s signals are powerful. We span obesity therapeutics, AI-enabled care, public health, pharma strategy, and more, with clinical readouts and industry alliances across areas, underscoring innovation and global health trends.
In Today’s Newsletter
🧪 Ascletis’ ASC30 shows ~75-day observed half-life in obesity Phase Ib [1]
Context: ASC30 (Ascletis; small-molecule GLP-1R) maintenance SQ depot tested in a US Phase Ib (NCT06679959) in participants with obesity (n=8 active; n=16 placebo).
Key point: Single 100 mg dose reached median Tmax ~17 days; time to 50% of Cmax ~75 days (observed half-life ~75 days). GI AEs were infrequent and Grade 1; no SAEs or liver enzyme elevations reported (12-week window).
Implication: May influence prescriber choice and payer reviews pending full data.
🍽️ Aphaia Pharma doses first subject in second Phase II obesity study [2]
https://www.clinicaltrialsarena.com/news/aphaia-pharma-obesity/
Context: Swiss/US Aphaia Pharma advancing an oral, coated glucose formulation targeting L-cell hormones (GLP-1, GLP-2, glicentin, oxyntomodulin).
Key point: Second Phase II initiated; earlier Phase II showed directional weight-loss and was well tolerated (endpoint specifics not stated).
Implication: May influence prescriber choice and payer reviews pending full data.
🇰🇷 Mounjaro shortages persist a month after South Korea launch [3] [South Korea • 10 Sep 2025]
https://www.chosun.com/english/industry-en/2025/09/10/D42GGECU7VH67OOUIRKWWWYG34/
Context: Tirzepatide (Eli Lilly; Mounjaro) launched locally with low-dose strengths; reports of pharmacies and clinics out of stock nationwide.
Key point: Initial shipment sold out within two weeks; higher-dose SKUs expected mid-Oct (per report). Market expanding alongside Wegovy; professional society cautions against cosmetic-use prescribing.
Implication: Could inform practice and payer discussions; interpretation depends on supply dynamics and local policy.
🧑💼 Novo Nordisk to cut 9,000 jobs to refocus on obesity/diabetes [4]
Context: Company cites intensifying competition in GLP-1s; aims to streamline and speed decisions.
Key point: 9,000 roles (≈11%) to be eliminated, including 5,000 in Denmark; targets ~DKK 8B savings by end-2026 to reinvest in obesity/diabetes R&D and growth.
Implication: Introduces competition that may affect pricing and formulary access.
💊 Lilly vs. Novo: oral GLP-1 pills near US launch; head-to-head data pending [5] [US • 12 Sep 2025]
https://www.cnbc.com/2025/09/12/obesity-pills-from-eli-lilly-novo-nordisk-near-us-launch.html
Context: Orforglipron (Eli Lilly; oral GLP-1) and oral semaglutide (Novo Nordisk) prepare for US obesity indications.
Key point: Lilly ran a head-to-head Phase 3 vs oral semaglutide in T2D; primary HbA1c with weight-loss also assessed. Lilly signals confidence in orforglipron ahead of data readout.
Implication: May influence prescriber choice and payer reviews pending full data.
🤝 Fangzhou & Innovent ally on AI-enabled weight management in China [6]
https://firstwordpharma.com/story/6060727
Context: Fangzhou (06086.HK; AI internet healthcare) and Innovent Biologics form a strategic partnership integrating digital services with metabolic therapies.
Key point: Collaboration aims to combine “H2H” digital ecosystem with obesity/diabetes drugs; cites China policy push and JPMorgan’s US$14.9B China weight-drug market estimate by 2030.
Implication: Signals pipeline investment and modality expansion.
🌍 UNICEF: Child obesity now surpasses underweight globally [7]
Context: UNICEF “Feeding Profit” report (114 pp) on malnutrition trends across regions.
Key point: In 2025, 9.4% of children aged 5–19 were obese vs 9.2% underweight; stunting/wasting remain significant in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia.
Implication: Could inform practice and payer discussions; interpretation depends on study design and confounding control.
Why it matters
- Ultra-long-acting GLP-1 maintenance (ASC30) hints at quarterly dosing, potentially improving adherence.
- Oral GLP-1s could expand access beyond injectables and reshape market share dynamics.
- Supply constraints (South Korea) show demand pressure that may influence launch sequencing and dosing mix.
- Novo’s restructuring signals intensifying competition and capital reallocation to obesity/diabetes.
- Digital–drug partnerships (China) foreshadow integrated care models at scale; UNICEF trends stress public-health urgency.
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FAQ
What is ASC30 and why does a ~75-day half-life matter?
ASC30 (Ascletis) is a small-molecule GLP-1R agonist in a SQ depot; observed half-life ~75 days after a single 100 mg dose in a US Phase Ib, with limited GI AEs reported over 12 weeks (small n). It supports exploration of once-quarterly maintenance dosing. [1]
When might oral GLP-1 pills arrive in the US, and how will they compare?
Lilly and Novo expect US launches next year pending approvals. Lilly conducted a head-to-head Phase 3 (orforglipron vs oral semaglutide) focused on HbA1c with weight-loss assessed; comparative efficacy/safety details are not yet reported. [5]
Why is Mounjaro short in South Korea post-launch?
Reports cite small initial shipments and strong demand; low-dose SKUs arrived first with higher doses expected around mid-October (per local media). Stockouts are widely reported across pharmacies/clinics. [3]
What changes follow Novo Nordisk’s 9,000-job cut?
Novo targets ~DKK 8B savings by end-2026, redirecting to obesity/diabetes R&D and growth while simplifying operations amid GLP-1 competition. [4]
What does the Fangzhou–Innovent partnership do?
It integrates Fangzhou’s AI-enabled “H2H” digital health services with Innovent’s metabolic therapies for weight management, aligned with China’s public-health initiatives and a growing market. [6]
Did UNICEF really say child obesity exceeds underweight now?
Yes. UNICEF reports 2025 prevalence of obesity (9.4%) surpassing underweight (9.2%) among children 5–19, while stunting/wasting remain major issues in some regions. [7]
Entities / Keywords
Ascletis; ASC30; GLP-1 receptor agonist; ultra-long-acting; depot; Aphaia Pharma; coated glucose; L-cell hormones; Eli Lilly; tirzepatide (Mounjaro); Novo Nordisk; semaglutide (Wegovy/Ozempic); orforglipron; oral semaglutide; Fangzhou Inc. (06086.HK); Innovent Biologics; Healthy China; UNICEF; child obesity; supply shortages; layoffs; AI health.
References
- https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ascletis-announces-ultra-long-acting-subcutaneous-depot-maintenance-formulation-of-small-molecule-glp-1r-agonist-asc30-demonstrated-an-observed-half-life-of-75-days-in-participants-with-obesity-302550420.html
- https://www.clinicaltrialsarena.com/news/aphaia-pharma-obesity/
- https://www.chosun.com/english/industry-en/2025/09/10/D42GGECU7VH67OOUIRKWWWYG34/
- https://www.midfloridanewspapers.com/novo-nordisk-maker-of-obesity-drug-wegovy-to-cut-9-000-jobs-to-sharpen-focus/article_0098b5dd-ed61-40f9-8efe-f7071fd76eb6.html
- https://www.cnbc.com/2025/09/12/obesity-pills-from-eli-lilly-novo-nordisk-near-us-launch.html
- https://firstwordpharma.com/story/6060727
- https://www.telegraph.co.uk/global-health/science-and-disease/obesity-overtakes-hunger-top-malnutrition-problem-children/