LONDON and SAN FRANCISCO, July 30, 2026
Verdiva Bio announced that the first patient has been dosed in a Phase 1 single ascending dose (SAD) clinical trial evaluating VRB-103, an investigational once-weekly oral amylin peptide analog, for the treatment of overweight and obesity. The randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study will assess the safety, tolerability, and pharmacological profile of VRB-103 as both a monotherapy and in combination with VRB-101, the company’s investigational once-weekly oral GLP-1 analog (ecnoglutide). According to Verdiva Bio, VRB-103 is the first known once-weekly oral amylin analog currently in clinical development, and the company expects initial Phase 1 data by the end of 2026, marking an important milestone in its strategy to develop next-generation oral therapies for obesity
Phase 1 Study Evaluates Weekly Oral Amylin Therapy Alone and With GLP-1
The ongoing Phase 1 trial (NCT07628127) is enrolling healthy participants with elevated body mass index (BMI) and is designed to evaluate the safety, tolerability, and dose escalation of VRB-103. In addition to testing the therapy alone, researchers will evaluate multiple dose combinations of VRB-103 with VRB-101, Verdiva’s investigational once-weekly oral GLP-1 receptor agonist currently in Phase 2 development. Both investigational medicines utilize the company’s proprietary oral peptide delivery platform, which is designed to enable once-weekly oral dosing while improving peptide absorption. The combination strategy aims to explore complementary mechanisms that could deliver enhanced weight loss while maintaining a favorable tolerability profile compared with existing obesity treatments.
Novel Amylin Analog Targets Obesity Beyond Traditional GLP-1 Therapy
VRB-103 has been engineered as a selective oral amylin receptor agonist targeting human amylin receptor-1 and receptor-3, while minimizing activity at the calcitonin receptor. Preclinical studies demonstrated strong receptor potency, high selectivity, and a pharmacokinetic profile comparable to VRB-101, supporting its potential as a differentiated obesity therapy. Unlike GLP-1-based medicines, amylin agonists provide a non-incretin mechanism of action, offering a potential treatment option for patients who do not respond adequately to GLP-1 therapies or who experience tolerability limitations. Verdiva Bio believes the combination of weekly oral amylin and weekly oral GLP-1 therapy could represent a new generation of convenient, non-injectable obesity treatments.
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Verdiva Bio Advances Next-Generation Oral Obesity Pipeline
According to Steve Marso, Chief Medical Officer of Verdiva Bio, the initiation of the VRB-103 Phase 1 study reflects the company’s continued progress in building a pipeline of differentiated once-weekly oral peptide therapies for obesity and obesity-related disorders. He emphasized that obesity is a chronic disease requiring multiple treatment approaches and noted that VRB-103 has the potential to provide patients with a convenient oral alternative that combines meaningful efficacy with improved tolerability. Alongside VRB-101, which has already demonstrated clinical proof-of-concept and advanced into Phase 2, VRB-103 strengthens Verdiva Bio’s strategy to expand treatment options using its proprietary oral peptide delivery platform. Positive Phase 1 results expected later this year could support further clinical advancement of both monotherapy and combination obesity treatment programs.
Source: Verdiva Bio press release
