Structure Therapeutics Inc shares surged 34% to $50.34 in midday trading on Friday after the clinical-stage global biopharmaceutical company announced what it called positive results of the Phase 1b multiple ascending dose (MAD) study for its oral GLP-1 receptor agonist, GSBR-1290, a weight loss drug.
Structure Therapeutics said GSBR-1290 demonstrated significant weight loss during the 28-day trial, up to 4.9 kilograms (kg) compared to the baseline, supporting once-daily dosing.
If successful, its obesity drug could challenge the offerings from Eli Lilly and Nordisk A/S, which manufactures the popular weight loss drug, Wegovy.
"GSBR-1290 demonstrated an encouraging safety and tolerability profile with no adverse event-related discontinuations and we are encouraged by the weight loss observed following four weeks of treatment," Structure Therapeutics CEO Raymond Stevens said in a statement.
"We look forward to sharing results of GSBR-1290 over a longer 12-week period in the Phase 2a study, and we continue to move forward with all activities in order to begin Phase 2b clinical trials in both type 2 diabetes and obesity as planned in 2024," he added.
The company noted that no participants discontinued the study drug due to adverse events, with most adverse events reported being mild, with no severe or serious adverse events observed.
Shares of Structure Therapeutics went public in early February 2023 and have climbed nearly 100% since.
Contact Sean at sean@proactiveinvestors.com