Ascletis reports 75-day half-life for ASC30 obesity maintenance

Ascletis Pharma Inc. has reported that its ultra-long-acting subcutaneous (SQ) depot maintenance formulation of the small molecule GLP-1R agonist ASC30 demonstrated an observed half-life of 75 days in participants with obesity. This finding, from a U.S. Phase Ib clinical study, supports once-quarterly administration as a maintenance therapy for chronic weight management. The formulation was developed using Ascletis' Ultra-Long-Acting Platform (ULAP).

Following a single 100 mg SQ injection of ASC30 in eight obese participants, the median time to reach maximum concentrations was 17 days post-dose. Concentrations reduced to 50% of the maximum around 75 days post-dose, confirming the observed half-life. The company views once-quarterly SQ administration of ASC30 as a potential major breakthrough, addressing an unmet need.

During the 12-week post-injection period, the ASC30 maintenance formulation showed favorable gastrointestinal tolerability. Incidence rates of vomiting, nausea, diarrhea, and constipation in ASC30-treated patients were 0.0%, 0.0%, 12.5%, and 12.5%, respectively, with no serious adverse events, Grade 3 or higher adverse events, or liver enzyme elevations reported.