Ascletis Pharma has taken a major step in its metabolic disease pipeline by selecting ASC37 oral tablets as a clinical development candidate. The company plans to submit an IND application to the US FDA in Q2 2026.
ASC37 is a GLP-1R/GIPR/GCGR triple peptide agonist developed using Ascletis’ in-house AI-driven drug discovery platform and its proprietary oral delivery technology.
Why ASC37 Matters?
ASC37 aims to solve a major industry challenge: How do you deliver a peptide drug orally with strong bioavailability and sustained exposure?
Ascletis believes ASC37 may be the answer.
Key highlights from non-human primate (NHP) studies:
- 4.2% absolute oral bioavailability
- 9× higher than semaglutide
- 30× higher than tirzepatide
- 60× higher than retatrutide
- 57× higher drug exposure (AUC) than oral retatrutide
- ~56-hour half-life, supporting once-daily or even less frequent dosing
- 5×, 4×, and 4× more potent than retatrutide for GLP-1R, GIPR, and GCGR receptors
These results were achieved using the company’s POTENT oral transport technology.
The Science Behind ASC37
ASC37 is built using three of Ascletis’ core technology platforms:
- AISBDD (AI-Assisted Structure-Based Drug Discovery)
- POTENT (Peptide Oral Transport ENhancement Technology)
- ULAP (Ultra-Long-Acting Platform)
Together, they enabled the creation of an oral triple agonist with strong potency and long systemic exposure.
What the Leadership Says?
Jinzi Jason Wu, Ph.D., Founder, Chairman, and CEO of Ascletis, commented:
“Selecting ASC37 shows our strong R&D engine and commitment to solving obesity. Our technology platforms allow us to build a differentiated and competitive metabolic pipeline.”
The GRP: A Growing Obesity Pipeline
ASC37 is part of a broader metabolic portfolio, which includes:
- ASC30 – Oral and long-acting GLP-1R agonist
- ASC36 – Once-monthly amylin receptor agonist
- ASC35 – Once-monthly GLP-1R/GIPR dual agonist
- ASC37 – Oral GLP-1R/GIPR/GCGR triple agonist
Ascletis continues to position itself as a key innovator in obesity and metabolic disorders.
Upcoming Milestone
A Mandarin investor call is scheduled for December 1, 2025, via Tencent/VooV Meeting (ID: 495-266-842).
