Ascletis Pharma (HKG:1672) said its experimental drug ASC47, when combined with semaglutide, delivered up to 56.2% greater relative weight reduction in obese participants compared with semaglutide monotherapy, according to a Monday Hong Kong bourse filing.

The randomized, double-blind Phase I study enrolled 28 participants and tested single-dose subcutaneous ASC47 at 10 mg, 30 mg, and 60 mg alongside four weekly 0.5 mg doses of semaglutide, topline US trial data showed.

At day 29, the 30 mg dose showed the strongest effect, with significantly reduced weight rebound four weeks after discontinuation.

The company said gastrointestinal tolerability also improved. Vomiting occurred in 6.7% of patients on the combination versus 57.1% on semaglutide alone.