Pharmaceutical giant Roche abandons early obesity treatment research due to perceived uncompetitiveness in the market
In a recent development, Swiss pharmaceutical giant Roche has announced the discontinuation of CT-173, an investigational PYY analog for the treatment of obesity.
Current Status
The molecule was acquired by Roche in December 2023 as part of its $2.7 billion acquisition of Carmot Therapeutics. However, the decision to discontinue CT-173 was made in July 2025, as it was found to lack competitiveness and developability, not meeting Roche's assessment criteria for further investment.
Reason for Discontinuation
Despite initial excitement over preclinical data showing potential in breaking weight loss plateaus when combined with other treatments, Roche decided not to proceed with clinical trials. The discontinuation was announced during Roche's second-quarter earnings call.
Future Plans
There are no announced future plans for CT-173 itself, as it has been discontinued. However, Roche remains confident in its obesity portfolio, indicating that other assets are still under development and considered competitive.
Roche's Obesity Portfolio
Roche's Q2 earnings report showed a strong performance, with earnings of 15.504 billion Swiss Francs, representing an 8% year-on-year growth. Hemlibra and Vabysmo were among Roche's top-performing products in Q2, with nearly $1.6 billion and roughly $1.32 billion in sales respectively. Ocrevus, indicated for multiple sclerosis, was Roche's best-selling product with around $2.18 billion sales in Q2, up 10% year-on-year.
The pharma company has abandoned the development of CT-173, but its obesity portfolio remains confident, with other assets still under development.
Author and Contact Information
The article was written by Tristan Manalac and published on a specific website. Tristan Manalac's LinkedIn profile is available, and he can be contacted via tristan.manalac@our website or [email protected].
[1] Roche's Second-Quarter Earnings Call Transcript (2025) [2] Roche Acquires Carmot Therapeutics for $2.7 Billion (2023)
The discontinuation of CT-173, a potential treatment for obesity, by Roche in July 2025, was due to its lack of competitiveness and developability, not meeting Roche's assessment criteria for further investment. Despite this, the health-and-wellness industry, including weight-management, may still benefit from Roche's obesity portfolio, as the company remains confident in its other assets under development. The financial performance of Roche's obesity and other portfolios is often a topic of interest in the medical-conditions field, with recent reports showing strong performances.
