- ASC36_35 FDC, a once-monthly subcutaneous (SQ) injection co-formulation of ASC36 and ASC35, is a potentially first-in-class drug candidate targeting three validated targets of amylin receptor, GLP-1R and GIPR.
- ASC36_35 FDC demonstrated approximately 51% greater relative body weight reduction compared to the co-administration of eloralintide and tirzepatide in a head-to-head diet-induced obese (DIO) rat study.
- ASC36 is a potentially first-in-class once-monthly to once-quarterly SQ injection targeting amylin receptor.
- ASC36 monotherapy demonstrated approximately 91% and 32% greater relative body weight reduction compared to petrelintide and eloralintide monotherapies, respectively, in head-to-head DIO rat studies.
HONG KONG, July 5, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Ascletis Pharma Inc. (HKEX: 1672, "Ascletis") announces today recent submissions of two Investigational New Drug (IND) applications to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for ASC36, a once-monthly to once-quarterly next-generation peptide amylin receptor agonist and ASC36_35 FDC, a once-monthly injection co-formulation of ASC36 plus peptide GLP-1R/GIPR agonist ASC35, for the treatment of obesity.
"Eloralintide in combination with tirzepatide recently demonstrated 29.0% weight loss at week 32[1]. However, two separate weekly injections are required; one for eloralintide and one for tirzepatide. In contrast, ASC36_35 FDC, a potentially first-in-class subcutaneous (SQ) injection co-formulation targeting amylin receptor, GLP-1R and GIPR, requires only one monthly injection," said Jinzi Jason Wu, Ph.D., Founder, Chairman and CEO of Ascletis, "Equally exciting, ASC36_35 FDC demonstrated approximately 51% greater relative body weight reduction compared to the co-administration of eloralintide and tirzepatide in a head-to-head diet-induced obese (DIO) rat study. These animal models are highly predictive of human efficacy."
Both ASC36 and ASC35 were discovered in-house utilizing Ascletis' Artificial Intelligence-Assisted Structure-Based Drug Discovery (AISBDD). Both ASC36 once-monthly to once-quarterly formulation and ASC36_35 FDC once-monthly co-formulation are Self-Assembling Lipid Depot (SALD) formulations, developed in-house utilizing Ascletis' Ultra-Long-Acting Platform (ULAP) technology.
In head-to-head non-human primate (NHP) studies, ASC36 SALD formulation demonstrated approximately 6-fold longer observed half-life than eloralintide, supporting once-monthly to once-quarterly SQ administration in humans. In NHP studies, ASC36_35 FDC SALD co-formulation demonstrated long observed half-lives for both ASC36 and ASC35, supporting once-monthly SQ administration in humans.
Preclinical studies have established the superior efficacy of ASC36 injection and ASC36_35 FDC injection co-formulation. In head-to-head DIO rat studies, which are highly predictive of human efficacy, ASC36 monotherapy, targeting amylin receptor, demonstrated approximately 91% and 32% greater relative body weight reduction compared to petrelintide and eloralintide monotherapies, respectively. In head-to-head DIO rat studies, the ASC36_35 co-formulation, targeting three targets of amylin receptor, GLP-1R and GIPR, demonstrated approximately 51% greater relative body weight reduction compared to the co-administration of eloralintide and tirzepatide.
Both ASC36 injection formulation and ASC36_35 FDC injection co-formulation exhibit excellent chemical and physical stability with no aggregation or precipitation caused by fibrillation at neutral pH.
Two IND submissions for ASC36 once-monthly injection and ASC36_35 once-monthly injection co-formulation build upon the recent milestone achieved by ASC35 once-monthly SALD formulation. In June 2026, Ascletis announced U.S. FDA IND clearance to initiate a Phase I clinical trial for ASC35 as a once-monthly SQ treatment for obesity (Press Release), highlighting the Company's robust clinical execution and the potential of its ULAP technology.
[1] Eli Lilly and Company. Safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of eloralintide and tirzepatide co-administered as once-weekly subcutaneous injections [Abstract accepted for presentation at EASD 2026] |
About Ascletis Pharma Inc.
Ascletis Pharma Inc. is a fully integrated biotechnology company focused on the development and commercialization of potential best-in-class and first-in-class therapeutics to treat metabolic diseases. Utilizing its proprietary Artificial Intelligence-assisted Structure-Based Drug Discovery (AISBDD) and Ultra-Long-Acting Platform (ULAP) technologies as well as Peptide Oral Transport ENhancement Technology (POTENT), Ascletis has developed multiple drug candidates in-house, including both small molecules and peptides, such as its lead program, ASC30, a small molecule GLP-1R agonist designed to be administered once daily orally and once monthly to once quarterly subcutaneously as a treatment therapy and a maintenance therapy for chronic weight management; ASC36, an amylin receptor peptide agonist, ASC35, a once-monthly subcutaneously administered GLP-1R/GIPR dual peptide agonist and ASC37, a GLP-1R/GIPR/GCGR triple peptide agonist, ASC39, an eloralintide-like potent and amylin-selective oral small molecule amylin receptor agonist, and ASC30_39 FDC, a fixed-dose combination (FDC) of ASC30 (GLP-1RA) and ASC39 (amylin RA), for chronic weight management. Ascletis is listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (1672.HK).
For more information, please visit www.ascletis.com.Â
Contact:
Peter Vozzo
ICR Healthcare
443-231-0505 (U.S.)
Ascletis Pharma Inc. PR and IR Teams
+86-181-0650-9129 (China)
View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ascletis-submits-two-ind-applications-to-the-us-fda-for-the-treatment-of-obesity-asc36-once-monthly-injection-a-peptide-amylin-receptor-agonist-and-asc3635-fdc-once-monthly-injection-a-co-formulation-of-asc36-plus-peptide-g-302818044.html
SOURCE Ascletis Pharma Inc.


(0) comments
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.