Enicepatide, formerly known as CT-388, is the once-weekly subcutaneous GLP-1/GIP dual receptor agonist Roche acquired through its Carmot Therapeutics deal and now positions at the center of its obesity strategy. The drug shares its mechanism with Lilly's tirzepatide and is in the same incretin-agonist class as a number of mid-stage competitors.
The near-term plan is combination. Roche plans to pair enicepatide with the amylin analog petrelintide (licensed from Zealand Pharma) in a Phase 2 combination trial, which Zealand said on September 22, 2026 is planned for the second half of 2026. It is the same amylin-plus-incretin strategy behind Novo's CagriSema. Phase 2 CT388-103 data for enicepatide and the petrelintide ZUPREME-1 readout were the two anchors of the Roche/Genentech ADA 2026 investor event on June 8. Roche executives have projected $9 billion in peak annual sales for the combined obesity pipeline.
On September 22, 2026, Roche reported that enicepatide met both primary endpoints in the 48-week Phase 2 CT-388-104 trial in 447 adults with type 2 diabetes and overweight or obesity. At 24 mg, HbA1c fell 2.65 percentage points from a baseline of 8.1% and body weight fell 15.5%; the announcement did not give placebo results. Two Phase 3 weight-management trials, ENITH-1 and ENITH-2, are under way, and Roche plans a Phase 3 glycemic-control program and cardiovascular outcomes trials in the first half of 2027.
Stories here cover enicepatide trial readouts and Roche's broader incretin and amylin strategy. See #roche, #petrelintide, and #glp-1-gip for adjacent threads.
Roche announced on Tuesday, September 22, 2026 that enicepatide (CT-388), an investigational once-weekly GLP-1/GIP receptor agonist, met both primary endpoints in the randomized, placebo-controlled Phase 2 CT-388-104 trial in 447 adults with type 2 diabetes and overweight or obesity. At the highest titrated dose of 24 mg, HbA1c fell 2.65 percentage points from a baseline of 8.1%, mean weight loss was 15.5% at 48 weeks with no plateau, and 90% of patients on that dose reached an HbA1c of 6.5% or lower. Discontinuation due to adverse events was 2.0% across enicepatide arms versus 0.0% on placebo, and side effects were mostly mild-to-moderate gastrointestinal. Roche's announcement did not give placebo results for weight or HbA1c; the company plans a Phase 3 glycemic-control program and cardiovascular outcomes trials in the first half of 2027, alongside the ongoing ENITH-1 and ENITH-2 weight-management trials.
The European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) 62nd Annual Meeting takes place in Milan September 28 through October 2, 2026, and sets up the largest single September catalyst window for obesity-peptide investor and clinical interest. AstraZeneca will present Phase 2 data on AZD6234 (selective amylin receptor peptide agonist) monotherapy from APRICUS plus the ASCEND Phase 2b combination with AZD9550 GLP-1/glucagon dual agonist. Zealand Pharma and Roche will present petrelintide (amylin analog) data from ZUPREME-2 (obesity plus type 2 diabetes) with the Phase 3 monotherapy program preparing to initiate late 2026. Novo Nordisk will present amycretin (long-acting GLP-1/amylin dual agonist) plus CagriSema follow-through data. The EASD calendar coincides with the Roche Pharma Day investor event on Monday September 28, 2026 that will update on the top-three-obesity-portfolio (petrelintide, enicepatide, HM17321). Ascendis Pharma is also expected to provide TransCon CNP achondroplasia updates.
Roche (SIX: ROG) is scheduled to hold its investor Pharma Day Monday September 28, 2026, providing updates across the R&D portfolio including three obesity assets that collectively position the company as the credible third-place global obesity competitor behind Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk. Petrelintide (amylin analog, partnered with Zealand Pharma under the March 2025 up-to-$5.3 billion collaboration, Phase 3 monotherapy initiation planned late 2026 following ZUPREME-1's 10.7% weight loss at 42 weeks). Enicepatide (CT-388, dual GLP-1/GIP receptor agonist acquired from Carmot Therapeutics in 2023, 54% obesity resolution at 24 mg in Phase 2). HM17321 (urocortin-2 / CRFR2 receptor agonist peptide licensed from Hanmi Pharm on August 24, 2026 with $190 million upfront plus up to $2.3 billion in milestones plus tiered royalties). The Roche Pharma Day coincides with the EASD 2026 Annual Meeting Milan September 28 through October 2, where AstraZeneca will present AZD6234 Phase 2 data, Zealand Pharma will present petrelintide data, and Novo Nordisk will present amycretin and CagriSema updates.
Roche (SIX: ROG) is scheduled to hold its Pharma Day investor event Monday September 28, 2026, providing updates across the R&D portfolio including three top-three-position obesity assets: petrelintide (amylin analog partnered with Zealand Pharma under the March 2025 up-to-$5.3 billion collaboration, ZUPREME-1 documented 10.7% weight loss at 42 weeks, Phase 3 monotherapy initiation planned late 2026); enicepatide (CT-388, dual GLP-1/GIP receptor agonist acquired from Carmot Therapeutics in 2023, 54% obesity resolution at 24 mg in Phase 2); and HM17321 (urocortin-2 / CRFR2 receptor agonist peptide licensed from Hanmi Pharm on August 24, 2026 with $190 million upfront plus up to $2.3 billion in milestones plus tiered royalties; Genentech takes over from Phase 2 forward). The Pharma Day briefing frames Roche as a credible third-place global obesity competitor behind Eli Lilly (Zepbound-Mounjaro-Foundayo plus upcoming retatrutide) and Novo Nordisk (Wegovy-Ozempic plus CagriSema plus amycretin), with EASD 2026 Milan September 28-October 2 the immediate downstream data catalyst.
Genentech presented Phase 2 CT388-103 data for enicepatide, the once-weekly GLP-1/GIP dual agonist, at the Roche investor event Monday June 8. The 48-week study produced 22.5% placebo-adjusted weight loss in adults with overweight or obesity, with 26% of participants losing more than 30% of body weight and almost 40% reaching at least 25%. Both enicepatide and petrelintide advance into Phase 3, and the planned Phase 2 multi-arm fixed-dose combination of the two starts mid-2026.
Genentech confirmed at its Monday investor event that the planned Phase 2 multi-arm fixed-dose combination of petrelintide (amylin analog) and enicepatide (GLP-1/GIP) starts mid-2026. The setup mirrors Novo's CagriSema and Lilly's Mounjaro-plus-amylin work, with Roche aiming for the same dual-mechanism economics that produced REIMAGINE 2's head-to-head win this week. Roche projected $9 billion in peak annual sales for the combined obesity pipeline at its Q1 print.
Genentech, Roche's US arm, will present detailed Phase 2 ZUPREME-1 data for the amylin analog petrelintide and Phase 2 CT388-103 data for the GLP-1/GIP agonist enicepatide as late-breakers at ADA 2026, with a June 8 virtual investor event. The Roche obesity package combines the two peptides as a planned fixed-dose Phase 2 combination later this year, and the company has projected $9 billion in peak annual sales for the combined pipeline.
On the April 23 Q1 call and follow-up coverage, Roche clarified that its two Phase 3 enicepatide (CT-388) obesity trials — ENITH 1 and ENITH 2 — were both successfully initiated in Q1, with the dual GLP-1/GIP agonist on track to compete in the next-wave Phase 3 obesity readouts. Phase 2 reported 22.5% placebo-adjusted weight loss for enicepatide. Roche also confirmed the petrelintide+enicepatide fixed-dose combination Phase 2 will dose its first patient around mid-2026, pairing the Zealand-derived amylin analog (placebo-like tolerability, 10.7% mean weight loss in ZUPREME-1 at week 42) with Roche's stronger GLP-1/GIP backbone. Additional Phase 2 readouts for oral GLP-1 CT-996 are guided before year-end 2026.
Roche reported Q1 2026 sales up 6% at constant exchange rates and used the earnings call to re-anchor its obesity strategy. Executives project $9 billion in peak annual sales from the emerging breast cancer pill plus four obesity candidates. Lead asset petrelintide (licensed from Zealand Pharma, ZUPREME-1 Phase 2 showed up to 10.7% weight loss with placebo-like tolerability) is positioned at a differentiated patient segment. CEO Schinecker said Roche is not investing in the first generation of obesity drugs, but the next — with petrelintide and CT-388 (enicepatide) data headed for ADA 2026.