Peptide News Digest

Roche Enspryng FDA Priority Review MOGAD, MannKind + Rose Inhaled GLP-1 Deal, Amgen MariTide 4-6 Doses/Year Maintenance

Roche Enspryng wins FDA Priority Review for MOGAD, MannKind licenses inhaled GLP-1 to Rose, Amgen MariTide targets 4-6 doses/year, Solstice raises $225M.

7 stories · Covering regulatory, industry, clinical-trials

Editor's Note

Thursday closed the Wells Fargo 21st Annual Healthcare Conference in Boston with a set of pipeline updates that shifted expectations across three peptide-adjacent classes. Amgen used its podium to lay out the case that MariTide (maridebart cafraglutide, antibody-peptide conjugate combining GLP-1 receptor agonism with GIP receptor antagonism) could support 8-week or even quarterly maintenance dosing in the 4-6 doses-per-year range — a positioning that would reframe the weekly-injection obesity market if the Phase 3 program confirms the sustained pharmacokinetics. Altimmune outlined a three-front pemvidutide (GLP-1/glucagon dual agonist peptide) push covering MASH (PERFORMA Phase 3 enrolling, 2029 readout), alcohol use disorder (RECLAIM Phase 2 data supportive), and alcohol-related liver disease (RESTORE Phase 2 fully enrolled with 12-month FibroScan endpoint). On the regulatory side, the FDA granted Priority Review to Roche's Enspryng (satralizumab, an anti-IL-6 receptor monoclonal antibody) supplemental BLA for MOGAD, a rare autoimmune central nervous system disease with no approved treatments; a January 10, 2027 PDUFA date follows the Phase 3 METEOROID trial's 68% relapse-risk reduction versus placebo. On the deals side, MannKind and Rose Pharma signed a worldwide licensing deal to develop an inhaled rapid-acting short-duration GLP-1 (ROSE-010) via MannKind's Technosphere dry-powder platform, and Solstice Oncology launched with $225 million Series A financing to advance a second-generation CTLA-4 antibody (porustobart, licensed from Harbour BioMed) into neoadjuvant colon cancer. In pediatric endocrinology, ESPE 2026 in Marseille closed with Ascendis Pharma poster presentations on the HighLiGHts Phase 3 trial design for lonapegsomatropin (TransCon hGH) across Turner syndrome, SHOX deficiency, small-for-gestational-age, and idiopathic short stature.

FDA Grants Priority Review to Roche's Enspryng (Satralizumab) Supplemental BLA for Myelin Oligodendrocyte Glycoprotein Antibody-Associated Disease (MOGAD); January 10, 2027 PDUFA Date

Roche (SIX: RO, ROG; OTCQX: RHHBY) announced Thursday September 10, 2026 that the FDA granted Priority Review to a supplemental Biologics License Application (sBLA) for Enspryng (satralizumab, a humanized anti-interleukin-6 receptor monoclonal antibody using recycling-antibody technology for extended IL-6 receptor blockade) for the treatment of myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody-associated disease (MOGAD). MOGAD is a rare inflammatory central nervous system disorder attacking optic nerves, brain, and spinal cord with estimated prevalence of 0.51 to 3.42 per 100,000 people. It has no FDA-approved disease-modifying treatments. The Phase 3 METEOROID trial met its primary endpoint of time to first relapse during double-blind treatment with a 68% reduction in relapse risk versus placebo (p=0.0025) and secondary endpoints including 87% of Enspryng-treated patients relapse-free at 48 weeks (versus 67% on placebo), 66% lower annualized relapse rate, 79% fewer active MRI lesions, and 73% reduced rescue-therapy use. The FDA action date is January 10, 2027. Enspryng is currently approved in approximately 90 countries for neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD).

MannKind and Rose Pharma Sign Worldwide Licensing Deal for Inhaled Rapid-Acting Short-Duration GLP-1 (ROSE-010) via MannKind's Technosphere Dry-Powder Platform for Weight Management

MannKind Corporation (NASDAQ: MNKD) and Rose Pharma Inc. announced Wednesday September 9, 2026 a worldwide licensing and collaboration agreement to develop ROSE-010 Technosphere, an investigational rapid-acting, short-duration glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist peptide formulated using MannKind's proprietary Technosphere dry-powder inhalation technology for chronic weight management. Under the deal, Rose Pharma receives an exclusive worldwide license to use MannKind's Technosphere platform for ROSE-010 development and commercialization; MannKind will provide pharmaceutical development services through completion of Phase 1b and receives an equity interest in Rose Pharma, royalties on future net sales, and a board seat. Rose Pharma retains responsibility for clinical development, regulatory strategy, and commercialization. The Technosphere platform delivers peptides to the deep lung via dry-powder inhaler and previously enabled Afrezza (inhaled insulin), positioning ROSE-010 as a differentiated non-injection GLP-1 option distinct from the once-daily injectable class dominated by semaglutide and tirzepatide, or the recently launched Wegovy pill and Foundayo (orforglipron) oral small-molecule options.

Amgen Positions MariTide for 8-Week to Quarterly Maintenance Dosing (4-6 Doses per Year) at Wells Fargo Healthcare Conference; Phase 3 Long-Term Extension and Switch Studies Underway

Amgen (NASDAQ: AMGN) presented Thursday September 10, 2026 at the Wells Fargo 21st Annual Healthcare Conference in Boston, with Chief Medical Officer Paul Burton MD outlining a positioning for MariTide (maridebart cafraglutide, an antibody-peptide conjugate combining a GLP-1 receptor agonist peptide with a GIP receptor antagonist antibody scaffold) that could support 8-week or quarterly maintenance dosing (approximately 4-6 doses per year) after the induction phase. Phase 2 data showed about 20% weight loss at 52 weeks alongside lower triglycerides, lower high-sensitivity CRP, and an 11 mmHg drop in blood pressure. Two Phase 3 long-term extension studies (MARITIME-1 EXTENSION and MARITIME-2 EXTENSION) are examining lower maintenance dosing frequencies, plus a dedicated switch trial (MARITIME-SWITCH) testing conversion from weekly semaglutide or tirzepatide onto monthly MariTide. Six total Phase 3 MariTide trials enroll across obesity, obesity plus type 2 diabetes, obstructive sleep apnea, heart failure, and cardiovascular outcomes. Filing is planned late 2026 to early 2027 with anticipated launch 2027-2028. The 4% bone mineral density decline signal from Phase 1 remains a factor to watch in the Phase 3 dataset.

Altimmune Outlines Pemvidutide Three-Front Push Across MASH (PERFORMA Phase 3), Alcohol Use Disorder (RECLAIM Phase 2), and Alcohol-Related Liver Disease (RESTORE Phase 2) at Wells Fargo Conference

Altimmune Inc. (NASDAQ: ALT) presented Thursday September 10, 2026 at the Wells Fargo 21st Annual Healthcare Conference in Boston, outlining a three-front development plan for pemvidutide (an investigational once-weekly GLP-1/glucagon dual agonist peptide with FDA Breakthrough Therapy Designation for MASH). PERFORMA is the Phase 3 MASH trial with a 5-year duration and 52-week accelerated-approval look; readout is expected in 2029. RECLAIM is the Phase 2 alcohol use disorder trial reporting consistent reductions in heavy drinking days, a 2.2-level drop in WHO Risk Drinking Level, improvement in zero-heavy-drinking-days, and lower phosphatidylethanol (PEth) alcohol-consumption biomarker levels versus placebo. RESTORE is the Phase 2 alcohol-related liver disease trial that has completed enrollment and uses FibroScan liver stiffness as the primary endpoint with 12-month readout and 6-month interim. Altimmune reported $519 million in cash as of June 30, 2026, funding the MASH Phase 3 program through the 2029 readout. Pemvidutide is one of three glucagon-containing peptide candidates in late-stage MASH development alongside Boehringer-Zealand's survodutide and Lilly's retatrutide.

Solstice Oncology Launches With $225 Million Series A Financing to Advance Second-Generation Fc-Enhanced CTLA-4 Antibody Porustobart Into Neoadjuvant Colon Cancer Phase 2

Solstice Oncology, a Boston-based clinical-stage immuno-oncology company founded February 2026, announced Wednesday September 9, 2026 its formal launch and closing of an oversubscribed $225 million Series A financing to advance porustobart, a second-generation Fc-enhanced CTLA-4 monoclonal antibody licensed from Harbour BioMed. The Series A was led by RA Capital Management with participation from Canaan Partners, Forbion, and other investors. Porustobart is heading into a Phase 2 neoadjuvant trial combining with pembrolizumab (Merck's Keytruda) for microsatellite-stable clinical stage II-III colon cancer, targeting enrollment opening Q4 2026, plus a second undisclosed indication. Fc-enhancement is designed to improve the antibody's ability to deplete regulatory T-cells and enhance immunogenicity relative to first-generation CTLA-4 inhibitors like ipilimumab (Bristol Myers Squibb's Yervoy). The financing continues a Q3 2026 immuno-oncology financing wave and demonstrates continued investor appetite for differentiated checkpoint programs despite the maturity of the anti-PD-(L)1 class.

Ascendis Pharma Presents HighLiGHts Phase 3 Trial Design for Lonapegsomatropin (TransCon hGH) Across Four Pediatric Short-Stature Indications at ESPE 2026 Closing Day

Ascendis Pharma A/S (NASDAQ: ASND) presented Thursday September 10, 2026 at the closing day of the ESPE 2026 congress in Marseille the trial-design abstract for HighLiGHts, a Phase 3 study of lonapegsomatropin (TransCon human growth hormone, a sustained-release growth hormone prodrug branded SKYTROFA in the U.S. and marketed for pediatric growth hormone deficiency since 2021) in children with short stature or growth failure due to Turner syndrome, SHOX deficiency, small-for-gestational-age (SGA), or idiopathic short stature. The four-indication combined trial design targets patients whose short stature is not attributable to growth hormone deficiency per se, expanding beyond the current SKYTROFA U.S. label for pediatric GHD. The presentation was one of several Ascendis ESPE items following the Tuesday September 8 podium delivery of first Week 52 sentinel-cohort data from the Phase 3 reACHin trial of navepegritide (TransCon CNP) in infants with achondroplasia. Ascendis reported €55 million in Q2 2026 SKYTROFA revenue alongside €252 million from YORVIPATH and €8 million from YUVIWEL, for a €315 million combined product-revenue quarter.

iBio Outlines Long-Acting Antibody Obesity Pipeline (IBIO-610 Activin E, IBIO-600 Myostatin, Amylin Series, PH-HFpEF Bispecific) at Wells Fargo Conference

iBio Inc. (NYSE American: IBIO) announced at the Wells Fargo 21st Annual Healthcare Conference in Boston (Chief Executive Officer Martin Brenner DVM PhD in a Tuesday September 8, 2026 fireside chat) a broadening push into obesity and cardiometabolic disease anchored on long-acting antibody programs and a thesis that the market will shift toward combination treatment with durable maintenance. Lead program IBIO-610 is a long-acting Activin E antibody designed for infrequent dosing with strong target blockade, following a July 2026 disclosure that a single dose achieved near-complete active Activin E inhibition through 8 weeks in obese non-human primates. IBIO-600 (myostatin inhibitor) has completed single-ascending-dose enrollment and is headed toward Q1 2027 data readout. iBio also has an amylin program with four molecules differentiated by receptor selectivity profiles and a bispecific molecule for pulmonary hypertension with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (PH-HFpEF). The strategy is deliberately positioned as antibody-based rather than peptide-based to compete against MariTide, berobenatide, and the injectable-peptide GLP-1 class on dosing frequency and target-engagement duration.