Multiple studies have entered Phase 2b to Phase 3! Peptide and oligonucleotide therapies report a concentrated wave of successes.

Title context: Multiple studies have entered Phase 2b to Phase 3! Peptide and oligonucleotide therapies report a concentrated wave of successes. Text: Recently, multiple clinical advances have been disclosed in a concentrated manner in the global peptide and oligonucleotide (TIDES) field, involving functional cure of chronic hepatitis B, long-term weight management of obesity, metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), and cardiometabolic diseases, with several studies having entered Phase 2b to Phase 3 stages. Tengsheng Biopharma (02137) announced positive results from a Phase 2b study of the hepatitis B small interfering RNA (siRNA) therapy elebsiran combined with immunotherapy, with some patients maintaining hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) clearance 24 weeks after the end of treatment. Gan & Lee Pharmaceuticals. (603087.SH) announced positive topline results from the Phase 3b GRADUAL-3 study of the investigational GLP-1 receptor agonist bofanglutide (GZR18) in the treatment of adults with obesity or overweight. The study met its primary endpoint, showing that after prior weight-loss treatment, reducing the dosing frequency of bofanglutide to once monthly can still effectively maintain the achieved weight loss. Merck & Co., Inc. (MRK.US) disclosed the results of a Phase 2b clinical study of the investigational peptide therapy efinopegdutide (MK-6024) for the treatment of MASH during the 2026 American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases Liver Meeting. The study met its primary endpoint; after 52 weeks of treatment, the proportion of patients achieving MASH resolution without worsening of liver fibrosis in all efinopegdutide dose groups was significantly higher than that in the placebo group. Efinopegdutide is a once-weekly subcutaneous GLP-1/glucagon dual receptor agonist. The drug is designed to regulate energy metabolism, reduce liver fat accumulation, and explore potential improvement of liver inflammation and fibrosis by simultaneously activating GLP-1 and glucagon receptors.