Ascletis Pharma Shares Rise Over 5% on Dosing First Patient in Phase III Weight-Loss Drug Trial

Shares of Ascletis Pharma Inc. (1672.HK) surged in Hong Kong trading after the company announced a key milestone in the development of its potential weight-loss treatment. The biopharmaceutical firm has successfully dosed the first patient in its global Phase III clinical trial for ASC30, an oral drug candidate for long-term weight management.

Market Reaction

The news prompted a positive investor response, with Ascletis Pharma's stock climbing more than 5%. In morning trading, the shares were up 5.03% to HK$10.11, with a turnover of HK$3.84 million, according to market data.

Trial and Drug Profile

According to a company announcement, the global Phase III clinical program, named AURORA, is evaluating ASC30, a proprietary, once-daily oral small molecule. The drug is a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor (GLP-1R) agonist, a class of therapeutics being developed for both long-term weight management and the treatment of diabetes.

Ad

Regulatory and Financial Outlook

Ascletis outlined a clear timeline for ASC30's path to market. The company stated it expects to report top-line data from the Phase III study in the third quarter of 2028.

Following the data release, Ascletis plans to submit a New Drug Application (NDA) to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) by the end of 2028. A Marketing Authorisation Application (MAA) to the European Medicines Agency (EMA) is anticipated in early 2029. The company also noted its balance sheet and cash on hand are sufficient to fund the planned regulatory submissions and support operations through 2029.