HONG KONG and NEW ORLEANS, Louisiana, June 8, 2026
Ascletis Pharma has strengthened its position in the highly competitive obesity treatment landscape with the presentation of new clinical and preclinical data at the American Diabetes Association (ADA) 2026 Scientific Sessions, highlighting the progress of its differentiated obesity portfolio. The company showcased encouraging results from ASC30, its oral small-molecule GLP-1 receptor agonist, alongside promising preclinical findings for ASC37, an oral GLP-1R/GIPR/GCGR triple agonist peptide, and ASC39, a potent oral amylin receptor agonist. Collectively, the data underscore Ascletis’ strategy of developing multiple next-generation therapies targeting obesity and metabolic disease through innovative oral delivery technologies, peptide engineering, and small-molecule drug design. With obesity continuing to represent one of the largest unmet medical needs worldwide, the company’s diversified pipeline attracted significant attention from clinicians, researchers, and industry experts attending ADA 2026.
ASC30 Delivers Significant Weight Loss and Favorable Tolerability
The centerpiece of Ascletis’ ADA presentation was ASC30, a fully biased oral small-molecule GLP-1 receptor agonist being developed as a potential best-in-class therapy for chronic weight management. Clinical results from a Phase II study involving 125 participants with obesity demonstrated statistically significant and clinically meaningful dose-dependent weight reduction. Patients receiving ASC30 achieved placebo-adjusted mean body weight reductions of 5.4%, 7.0%, and 7.7% at Week 13 for the 20 mg, 40 mg, and 60 mg maintenance doses, respectively, with no evidence of a weight-loss plateau. Importantly, the treatment exhibited a favorable gastrointestinal tolerability profile, with approximately half the vomiting rate reported for oral GLP-1 competitor orforglipron during weekly dose escalation.
All gastrointestinal adverse events were mild to moderate, with no severe gastrointestinal events, drug-related serious adverse events, or hepatic safety concerns observed. The favorable safety profile, combined with clinically meaningful weight reduction, supports Ascletis’ plans to initiate global Phase III obesity trials by the end of the third quarter of 2026, positioning ASC30 as a strong contender in the rapidly growing oral obesity therapeutics market.
ASC39 Highlights Potential of Oral Amylin Receptor Agonists
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Ascletis also presented compelling preclinical findings for ASC39, a highly selective oral small-molecule amylin receptor agonist designed to target obesity through a complementary biological pathway. Laboratory studies demonstrated receptor selectivity comparable to injectable amylin therapies while potentially reducing adverse effects associated with calcitonin receptor activation. In diet-induced obesity rat models, ASC39 produced significant dose-dependent body weight reductions, achieving nearly 10% body weight loss within 11 days at the highest evaluated dose.
In a direct comparison study, ASC39 delivered weight-loss efficacy comparable to eloralintide, a leading amylin receptor agonist, despite being administered orally. Researchers believe this differentiated receptor profile may translate into improved tolerability while maintaining robust efficacy. The findings support ASC39’s advancement as a promising oral obesity treatment candidate and reinforce Ascletis’ broader strategy of combining GLP-1 and amylin receptor modulation to maximize therapeutic benefit.
ASC37 and POTENT Technology Advance Oral Peptide Innovation
Another key highlight from ADA 2026 was ASC37, an oral GLP-1R/GIPR/GCGR triple agonist peptide developed using Ascletis’ proprietary Peptide Oral Transport ENhancement Technology (POTENT) platform. The company reported that ASC37 achieved an average oral bioavailability of approximately 4.2%, representing a substantial improvement over existing oral peptide formulations and significantly exceeding the bioavailability observed with comparator formulations of tirzepatide and retatrutide in non-human primate studies. ASC37 also demonstrated an extended half-life of approximately 56 hours, supporting the potential for once-daily or even less frequent oral administration.
The proprietary POTENT platform is designed to enhance gastrointestinal absorption while protecting peptides from enzymatic degradation, addressing one of the most significant challenges in oral peptide drug development. Together, ASC30, ASC37, and ASC39 illustrate Ascletis’ commitment to building a differentiated obesity franchise spanning multiple mechanisms of action and advanced delivery technologies. As obesity therapeutics continue to attract substantial scientific and commercial interest, Ascletis’ ADA 2026 data position the company as an emerging innovator developing next-generation oral medicines capable of transforming long-term weight management and metabolic disease treatment.
Source: Ascletis Pharma press release
