Enicepatide (formerly CT-388) is an investigational, once-weekly subcutaneous dual GLP-1/GIP receptor agonist developed by Roche. It has no marketing authorisation in the UK: the MHRA has not licensed it, and it is not available through any lawful UK supply route. Everything below describes published trial results, not a licensed medicine.

What the molecule is

Enicepatide is a synthetic peptide engineered to act at both the glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) receptors — the same receptor pair targeted by tirzepatide. Roche's stated point of difference is signalling bias: the molecule was designed for potent activity at both receptors with minimal to no beta-arrestin recruitment. Because beta-arrestin recruitment drives receptor internalisation, reducing it is intended to limit receptor desensitisation and prolong pharmacological activity. Roche acquired the asset with Carmot Therapeutics.

CT388-103: Phase 2 in obesity

In January 2026 Roche reported topline results from CT388-103, a 48-week randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase 2 dose-finding trial in 469 adults with obesity or overweight plus at least one weight-related comorbidity. Doses were escalated to a maximum of 24 mg once weekly.

  • Placebo-adjusted mean weight loss at 48 weeks was 22.5% on the efficacy estimand and 18.3% on the treatment-regimen estimand (p<0.001), with no weight-loss plateau reached.
  • At 24 mg, 95.7% of participants lost at least 5% of body weight, 87% at least 10%, 47.8% at least 20% and 26.1% at least 30%.
  • 54% of the 24 mg arm reached a BMI below 30 kg/m2, against 13% on placebo.
  • Among participants with prediabetes at baseline, 73% on 24 mg normalised blood glucose, against 7.5% on placebo.

Gastrointestinal adverse events were predominantly mild to moderate and consistent with the incretin class. Discontinuation due to adverse events was 5.9% across enicepatide arms versus 1.3% on placebo. No new or unexpected safety signals were reported. Full results were presented at the ADA 2026 Scientific Sessions.

CT388-104: Phase 2 in type 2 diabetes

In September 2026 Roche reported topline results from CT388-104, a Phase 2 trial in adults with type 2 diabetes and overweight or obesity. The trial met both primary endpoints.

  • At the highest titrated dose (24 mg), mean HbA1c fell by 2.65 percentage points at 48 weeks from a baseline of 8.1%; in participants with a baseline HbA1c above 8.5% the reduction was 4.13 points.
  • 90% of the 24 mg arm reached an HbA1c of 6.5% or below, and 62% reached normoglycaemia (HbA1c below 5.7%).
  • Mean weight loss at 48 weeks in the 24 mg arm was 15.5%, again without a demonstrable plateau.

Roche described a safety and tolerability profile consistent with the incretin class, with low discontinuation rates and no new safety signals.

The combination programme

Roche and Zealand Pharma are co-developing the amylin analogue petrelintide. A multi-arm Phase 2 combination trial pairing petrelintide with enicepatide was planned to begin in 2026, on the hypothesis that amylin and incretin agonism act through complementary satiety pathways. Phase 3 development of enicepatide is also planned. None of these programmes is complete, and no regulator has approved the combination.

UK position

Enicepatide is not licensed by the MHRA and is not the subject of a NICE technology appraisal. Under the Human Medicines Regulations 2012, a product sold for human use as a medicine requires a marketing authorisation; an investigational peptide supplied outside a clinical trial has no such authorisation. Any material presented as enicepatide for human use is therefore neither licensed nor quality-assured. As with every compound on this site, the research framing applies: enicepatide is a laboratory and clinical research subject, not a product for human use.

Comparative statements in press materials — for example, HbA1c target attainment set beside retatrutide — are cross-trial comparisons, not head-to-head data, and should be read as such.

This article is AI-researched and editorially reviewed. It is provided for research and educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Research peptides are not licensed for human consumption in the UK.