Ascletis Pharma Inc. (1672) announced the selection of ASC36, a once-monthly subcutaneously administered amylin receptor agonist, as a clinical development candidate for obesity. According to the company, an Investigational New Drug Application for ASC36 is expected to be submitted to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in the second quarter of 2026. A conference call in Mandarin is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. China Standard Time on October 30, 2025.

Internal research showed that ASC36 had an average observed half-life of approximately 15 days in non-human primate studies, three times longer than that of petrelintide. In a head-to-head diet-induced obese rat study with equal molar dosing, ASC36 achieved a body weight reduction of 10.01%, compared with 5.25% for petrelintide. The company also reported that ASC36 exhibits favorable chemical and physical stability with the potential for co-formulation with other therapies, including a GLP-1R/GIPR dual agonist. These findings underscore ASC36’s potential as a once-monthly obesity treatment candidate.