Key Takeaways
- Roche (ROG) has advanced its experimental obesity drug, CT-388, into Phase III clinical trials, signaling its aggressive push into the lucrative weight-loss market.
- This move intensifies competition with current market leaders Eli Lilly (LLY) and Novo Nordisk (NVO), with Roche aiming to become a "Top 3 player" in a market projected to reach $150 billion annually by the early 2030s.
- Former President Donald Trump has publicly declared himself a "strong backer of vaccines."
Swiss pharmaceutical giant Roche (ROG) is making a significant stride into the booming weight-loss drug market, announcing on Monday that its experimental obesity treatment, CT-388, has advanced to late-stage (Phase III) clinical trials. This development underscores Roche's ambition to challenge the dominance of Eli Lilly (LLY) and Novo Nordisk (NVO) in a market analysts estimate could be worth $150 billion annually by the early 2030s.
Roche's shares saw a positive reaction, rising around 2-2.8% in afternoon trading following the announcement, outperforming the broader European healthcare index. The company had previously seen its shares jump nearly 5% when early-stage trials of CT-388 reported significant weight-loss results.
CT-388, an injectable dual GLP-1/GIP receptor agonist, was acquired by Roche in late 2023 through its $2.7 billion purchase of U.S. biotech firm Carmot Therapeutics. Phase I trial data indicated a placebo-adjusted weight loss of 18.8% at 24 weeks, a figure that surpassed Novo Nordisk's Wegovy (14.9% at 68 weeks) but trailed Eli Lilly's Zepbound (up to 22.5% at 72 weeks). Roche's pharmaceutical division head, Teresa Graham, stated the company's goal is to secure a strong entry with competitive products by 2030 and become a "Top 3 player" in the obesity market.
In other significant news, former President Donald Trump made a public statement declaring, "I Am A Strong Backer Of Vaccines." This declaration was reported on Monday, September 22, 2025. The statement comes amidst ongoing public discourse surrounding vaccine efficacy and policy.
Ed Liston is a senior contributing editor at TheStockMarketWatch.com. An active market watcher and investor, Ed guides an independent team of experienced analysts and writes for multiple stock trader publications.