Roche has slammed the brakes on an obesity antibody after the candidate showed little hope of hitting its endpoints in a phase 2 study. The Swiss pharma has handed emugrobart back to its Japanese subsidiary Chugai, which will resume development of the molecule for a rare genetic disease while also seeking potential partners.
Emugrobart is meant to block the activity of myostatin, a protein that acts as a check on muscle growth. By inhibiting myostatin and pairing with a GLP-1 like Lilly’s tirzepatide, emugrobart was designed to help patients retain muscle while losing weight.
However, an interim analysis of the phase 2 Gyminda trial of this idea concluded that success was unlikely, Chugai announced today, prompting Roche to give up on the candidate for good.
Trouble first started brewing for emugrobart back in March when the antibody failed to boost muscle growth in trials for spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) and facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD). Roche’s Genentech announced the decision to stop development in these diseases in separate letters to the patient communities, after finding that “emugrobart did not consistently deliver the hoped-for improvements in muscle growth and function.”
Muscle loss is a major side effect of weight loss drugs like tirzepatide and Novo’s semaglutide, and multiple biotechs are competing to develop next-gen drugs that help shed pounds without sacrificing muscle in the process. Aside from Roche, AstraZeneca, Biohaven and Wave Life Sciences are also active in the space.
With emugrobart back with Chugai, the biotech plans to take another look at the antibody’s potential in SMA, according to the release.
“Chugai has identified an opportunity to support a phase III study in SMA,” the company said, based on emugrobart’s safety profile, dosing and efficacy data so far. “Chugai has therefore initiated preparations to resume development, while also exploring potential out-licensing opportunities with third parties.”