RTW Biotech hails Corxel obesity drug progress in US, China trials

(Alliance News) - RTW Biotech Opportunities Ltd on Tuesday highlighted clinical developments from Corxel Pharmaceuticals (Shanghai) Co Ltd, its second-largest portfolio holding, including the start of a US phase 2 trial and positive results from a China study of Corxel's lead obesity treatment, CX11.

RTW Biotech, a London-listed investor focused on high-growth life science assets, said Corxel, a developer of cardiometabolic disease therapies, recently began enrolling patients in a US phase 2 trial of CX11, a once-daily oral GLP-1 receptor agonist targeting patients with obesity and overweight.

The trial will assess efficacy, safety, and a higher dose regimen aimed at enhancing weight loss while minimising gastrointestinal side effects. Results are expected in the first half of 2026.

Corxel also reported favourable data from a separate phase 2 trial in China, conducted with partner Chengdu Vincentage Pharma Co Ltd. The study showed significantly greater weight loss across all dosing groups versus placebo, with 55% to 90% of participants achieving at least 5% weight reduction by week 16, compared with 13% in the placebo arm.

Treatment also led to improvements in weight-related and cardiometabolic measures, with no serious safety issues or liver toxicity reported.

Rod Wong, CIO of RTW Investments, said the data reinforce confidence in CX11's potential to offer a convenient oral alternative to current injectable GLP-1 therapies.

As of May 31, Corxel represented 8.3% of RTW Biotech's net asset value.

RTW Biotech shares were down 0.6% at USD1.15 in London on Tuesday morning.

By Eva Castanedo, Alliance News reporter

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