Top Obesity News: Video summary (Sept 30 – Oct 14, 2025)

This top obesity news video summary includes Chugai’s in-licensing of Roche’s dual incretin CT-388 for Japan, Ascletis advancing its once-monthly dual GLP-1/GIP candidate ASC35 toward a 2026 FDA IND, and Sciwind preparing for a Hong Kong IPO as ecnoglutide faces NMPA review. Additional highlights include Skye’s nimacimab showing additive weight-loss benefits with Wegovy, Lotus expanding semaglutide commercialization across Asia, and new efforts by the Bill Gates Foundation and PAHO to broaden GLP-1 access in low-income countries.

Watch Our Video Summary Capturing Obesity News from the Last Two Weeks

🇨🇳 Phase 3 start for efsubaglutide alfa at Guangzhou Innogen [1] [CN • 30 Sep 2025]

https://www.hkexnews.hk/listedco/listconews/sehk/2025/0930/2025093001504.pdf
Context: Company notice says first patient dosed in a Phase 3 obesity/overweight trial, target enrollment ~800 in China.
Key point: Guangzhou Innogen advanced efsubaglutide alfa into Phase 3 and initiated dosing, with success not guaranteed per disclosure.
Implication: May influence prescriber choice and payer reviews pending full data.

🇯🇵 Chugai licenses Roche’s CT-388, dual GLP-1/GIP agonist, for Japan 🧬 [2] [JP • 10 Oct 2025]

https://www.chugai-pharm.co.jp/english/news/detail/20251010170000_1186.html
Context: Overseas Phase 1 in adults with obesity, weekly SC dosing for 24 weeks; placebo-adjusted mean weight change −18.8% (p<0.001).
Key point: Chugai obtained exclusive Japan rights; cites robust Phase 1 weight loss and tolerability, with Phase 2 ongoing overseas in obesity with T2D.
Implication: Signals pipeline investment and modality expansion.

🗓️ Ascletis picks once-monthly ASC35, GLP-1R/GIPR dual, for clinic [3]

https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ascletis-selects-a-best-in-class-once-monthly-subcutaneously-administered-glp-1rgipr-dual-peptide-agonist-asc35-for-clinical-development-302581431.html
Context: Preclinical NHP and DIO mouse data; engineered for longer half-life and higher exposure vs tirzepatide (head-to-head preclinical).
Key point: Plans U.S. IND for obesity in Q2 2026; positioning as once-monthly SC candidate with potential manufacturing scalability.
Implication: Signals pipeline investment and modality expansion.

🌏 Korea–China obesity race, Ildong oral GLP-1 early signal 📈 [4]

https://www.msn.com/en-xl/news/other/korean-chinese-firms-accelerate-obesity-drug-development/ar-AA1NCPxt
Context: Roundup of regional programs; Ildong disclosed early Phase 1 data for oral GLP-1 candidate ID110521156.
Key point: Company reported up to 13.8% weight loss at 4 weeks and average 9.9% at 200 mg in Phase 1, with once-daily oral dosing (early disclosure).
Implication: Could inform practice and payer discussions; interpretation depends on study design and confounding control.

🧪 Skye’s CB1 inhibitor nimacimab misses mono, shows combo lift with Wegovy [5]

https://www.clinicaltrialsarena.com/news/skye-biosciences-nimacimab-obesity-phase-iib-trial/
Context: Phase IIa obesity study; nimacimab is a peripheral CB1 inhibitor. Mono change −1.52% vs +0.26% placebo; company flagged dose as suboptimal.
Key point: Combo with semaglutide 2.4 mg showed −13.2% at 26 weeks, ~2.95% greater than Wegovy alone, with no added GI or neuropsychiatric AEs reported.
Implication: May influence prescriber choice and payer reviews pending full data.

🇪🇺 EASO: make semaglutide and tirzepatide first-line in obesity ✅ [6] [EU • 02 Oct 2025]

https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/novo-lilly-weight-loss-drugs-should-be-first-option-obesity-treatments-european-2025-10-02/
Context: Guideline published in Nature Medicine; non-binding across countries.
Key point: Recommends GLP-1 agonists as first choice when substantial weight loss is needed, with condition-specific preferences.
Implication: Could inform practice and payer discussions; interpretation depends on study design and confounding control.

🇺🇸 Pfizer announces White House pricing agreement 💵 [7]

https://www.pfizer.com/news/press-release/press-release-detail/pfizer-reaches-landmark-agreement-us-government-lower-drug
Context: Company press release describes a direct purchasing platform and parity pricing with other developed markets.
Key point: Pfizer states Americans would access significant discounts across many products, with additional U.S. investments noted; specific terms confidential.
Implication: Introduces competition that may affect pricing and formulary access.

🌎 Gates and PAHO explore GLP-1 access in lower-income countries 🌱 [8] [10 Oct 2025]

https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/bill-gates-paho-consider-ways-bring-weight-loss-drugs-lower-income-countries-2025-10-10/
Context: Reuters interview and report; references semaglutide patents expiring in some countries and WHO draft guidance.
Key point: Considering low-cost copies and potential Foundation-supported trials to broaden access via PAHO mechanisms.
Implication: May expand screening, initiation, and follow-up at scale.

Why it matters

GLP-1/GIP duals are diversifying, with regional rights deals and once-monthly dosing ambitions that could shift adherence dynamics.
Oral incretins, if validated, would alter initiation and persistence by removing injection barriers.
Non-incretin combos, such as CB1 inhibitors with GLP-1s, may raise the weight-loss ceiling while managing GI tolerability.
European guidance can shape payer and clinical pathways across multiple complications tied to obesity.
Access and pricing moves, from U.S. purchasing models to PAHO pooling, will determine global reach beyond high-income markets.

📢 Stay Ahead in Obesity research!

✅ Make sure to like, share, and subscribe to our YouTube channel to catch all future highlights. You can also check out our weekly newsletters for more in-depth obesity updates.

✅ Contact LucidQuest for strategic guidance on innovations in obesity care, treatment, and prevention.

FAQ

What is efsubaglutide alfa and where is it in development?

Efsubaglutide alfa is Guangzhou Innogen’s obesity candidate now in a China Phase 3 with first patient dosed and ~800 planned participants [1]. Full endpoints were not specified.

What efficacy did CT-388 show in early studies?

In an overseas Phase 1, weekly CT-388 yielded a −18.8% placebo-adjusted mean weight change at week 24, with high responder rates and mainly mild–moderate GI AEs per Chugai [2].

When could Ascletis’ ASC35 enter the clinic?

Ascletis plans a U.S. IND in Q2 2026 for ASC35, a once-monthly GLP-1R/GIPR dual peptide supported by preclinical NHP and DIO mouse data [3].

Did Skye’s nimacimab work as monotherapy?

No, monotherapy missed. In combination with semaglutide, it showed ~3% greater weight loss vs Wegovy alone at 26 weeks, with no added GI or neuropsychiatric AEs reported [5].

How do the new European guidelines position GLP-1s?

EASO recommends semaglutide and tirzepatide as first-line medicines for most obesity cases, with condition-specific preferences, noting guidance is non-binding [6].

Are there efforts to improve global access to GLP-1s?

Yes. Pfizer announced a U.S. pricing agreement [7], and Gates with PAHO are exploring lower-income access pathways and potential trials as semaglutide faces IP expiry in some markets [8].

Entities / Keywords

Semaglutide (Wegovy/Ozempic; Novo Nordisk), Tirzepatide (Zepbound/Mounjaro; Eli Lilly), CT-388 (Roche/Chugai), Efsubaglutide alfa (Guangzhou Innogen), ASC35 (Ascletis), Nimacimab (Skye; CB1 inhibitor), Ildong ID110521156 (oral GLP-1), EASO guideline, PAHO, Bill Gates, Pfizer pricing, GLP-1/GIP dual agonists, once-monthly incretins, oral incretins, combo therapies.

References