Roche (ROG) Acquires Afimkibart and Advances CT-388 in Clinical Trials, Targeting Obesity and Immunology Markets
Biosimilar Pressure and Roche's Bold Portfolio Restructuring
Roche (ROG) faced the patent cliff for its three blockbuster cancer drugs (Herceptin, Avastin, and Rituxan) due to biosimilar competition. While new drugs like Ocrevus and Hemlibra achieved sales of 21.4 billion Swiss francs (approximately $26.4 billion) in 2025, the company is pursuing a major portfolio shift into the obesity and autoimmune disease markets to ensure long-term growth. Rather than relying solely on its existing strength in oncology, Roche aims to diversify into metabolic and immune diseases with high unmet needs, thereby mitigating long-term risks.
$15 Billion Investment and Combination Therapy Strategy for Obesity
To enter the obesity market, which is expected to grow to $150 billion by 2035, Roche acquired Carmot, the developer of enicepatide (CT-388), for $2.7 billion. Enicepatide, a GLP-1/GIP agonist, demonstrated 22.5% weight loss in Phase 2 clinical trials and is scheduled to enter Phase 3 trials in the first quarter of 2026. Furthermore, to prevent the side effect of muscle loss, Roche entered into a $1.65 billion agreement with Zealand Pharma to develop petrelintide, an amylin analog, and will launch a combination clinical trial in the first half of 2026, accelerating its pursuit of market leadership.
$7.1 Billion Acquisition of Afimkibart to Secure a Foothold in the Immunology Market
In the autoimmune field, Roche acquired Telavant for $7.1 billion, securing the rights to afimkibart, a treatment for ulcerative colitis. Afimkibart, an anti-TL1A antibody that controls inflammation and fibrosis, is in Phase 3 clinical trials. However, its competitor, Merck (MRK), announced successful Phase 3 results for tulisokibart in June 2026, putting Roche in a challenging position. Roche aims to submit a New Drug Application (NDA) in 2027 and plans to differentiate itself through a unique mechanism of action, aiming to capture a share of the $8.3 billion ulcerative colitis market in 2025.
New Alzheimer's Drug Trontinemab and CAR-T Technology Acquisition
In the Alzheimer's field, Roche has moved trontinemab, which incorporates Brainshuttle technology, into Phase 3 clinical trials, overcoming the failure of gantenerumab. Trontinemab effectively delivers the drug across the blood-brain barrier (BBB) via the transferrin receptor (TfR), achieving a 91% amyloid clearance rate in Phase 2 trials. Additionally, Roche acquired Poseida for $1.5 billion, securing an allogeneic CAR-T cell therapy platform, and confirmed a 91% objective response rate (ORR) in Phase 1 clinical trials of P-BCMA-ALLO1 for multiple myeloma, innovating its oncology and immunology portfolios.
Roche's large-scale pipeline restructuring shifts the company away from its cancer-centric business structure and into the high-value obesity and immunology markets, laying the foundation for diversifying long-term corporate risks and securing new growth engines. In the short term, the success of enicepatide (CT-388), which has entered Phase 3 clinical trials, and the approval of afimkibart, scheduled for submission in 2027, will be key milestones in determining whether Roche can gain an advantage over market leaders such as Eli Lilly and Merck. In terms of research and development, the use of its proprietary Brainshuttle platform to maximize drug delivery across the blood-brain barrier for Alzheimer's treatments and the acquisition of a ready-to-use allogeneic CAR-T platform will provide opportunities to lead long-term mechanistic innovation in the next generation of brain disease and cell therapies. Ultimately, the success of these large-scale R&D investments will determine Roche's market share in the $150 billion obesity market and the $15 billion ulcerative colitis market, which will in turn determine the company's future valuation and global capital allocation efficiency.
Source: Labiotech (rss)
https://www.labiotech.eu/top-pharma-strategy/roche-strategy/