TIDES Weekly Recap | Global Peptide and Oligonucleotide Drug Highlights (June 12–18, 2026)
City Therapeutics
RNAi Drug Developer
Abogen
Nucleic Acid Drug Developer
Recently, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, City Therapeutics, a biopharmaceutical company pioneering the future of RNA interference (RNAi) therapeutics, announced the completion of a $99.5 million Series B financing round. New investors Viking Global Investors and Sofinnova Investments participated in the funding, alongside Castin Capital, NYBC Ventures, and existing investors ARCH Venture Partners, Fidelity Management & Research Company, Invus, Slate Path Capital, Rock Springs Capital, Regeneron Ventures, AN Ventures, and other undisclosed investors.
The proceeds will be used to advance City Therapeutics’ RNAi therapeutic pipeline, accelerate the company’s next-generation RNAi engineering platform, and support business development activities. The company recently initiated a Phase 1 clinical trial of CITY-FXI, a Factor XI (FXI)-targeting therapy for thromboembolic disorders, and announced positive preclinical data for CITY-RBP4, a potential first-in-class RNAi therapy for Stargardt disease.
On June 13, 2026, Novo Nordisk announced that Ryzodeg® (icodec insulin/semaglutide injection), the world’s first and currently only approved weekly basal insulin/glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1 RA) combination formulation, is set to launch in China. It is indicated for adult patients with type 2 diabetes who have inadequate glycemic control after treatment with basal insulin or GLP-1 RA, as an adjunct to diet and exercise in combination with oral glucose-lowering medications.
NovoJie®Composed of semaglutide, a globally widely used GLP-1 RA weekly formulation with robust clinical evidence, and icodec insulin, the world’s first once-weekly basal insulin, this dual-component therapy works synergistically to better mimic physiological insulin secretion patterns and address the multiple pathophysiological mechanisms of diabetes.
Clinical studies have shown that NovoJet®The treatment group achieved an HbA1c target attainment rate (<7.0%) of 72%, which is twice that of the basal insulin group. Among these, the proportion of patients achieving high-quality target attainment was five times that of the basal insulin group, while also delivering benefits in terms of weight control and comprehensive metabolic improvement. It can be said that NovoJie® not only improves target attainment rates but also reduces concerns related to hypoglycemia and weight gain associated with treatment; its once-weekly dosing significantly alleviates the injection burden on patients, returning health and freedom to their lives.
On June 15, 2026, Abogen, a leading domestic company in the mRNA sector, announced that its self-developed lyophilized herpes zoster mRNA vaccine, ABO1108, has officially completed Phase III clinical trial registration on the Drug Clinical Trial Registration and Information Publicity Platform (Registration No. CTR20262350). This makes it the first herpes zoster mRNA vaccine globally to advance to Phase III clinical trials, marking the formal entry of this innovative technological approach into the critical pre-marketing validation stage.
According to public disclosures, this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial is led by Chief Physician Huang Teng from the Guangxi Center for Disease Control and Prevention. It will be conducted simultaneously in Guangxi, Zhejiang, Hebei, and Shandong provinces, planning to enroll 18,000 healthy participants aged 40 and above. Individuals with well-controlled underlying conditions are eligible to participate. The vaccination regimen consists of two intramuscular injections administered 60 days apart. The current status of the trial is “recruiting not yet started.”Founded in 2019, Abogen Biosciences is one of the earliest companies in China to deploy mRNA technology. Its current pipeline covers both preventive vaccines for infectious diseases and therapeutic vaccines for cancer. In the shingles vaccine sector, recombinant zoster vaccines from domestic companies such as Luzhu Biotechnology, Maikekang Biotechnology, Yidao Biotechnology, and Ruike Biotechnology have sequentially submitted marketing applications. As the first mRNA-based product to enter Phase III clinical trials, ABO1108 has the potential to disrupt the existing market landscape if subsequent data are favorable, leveraging the potential immunogenicity advantages of mRNA technology and the storage and transportation convenience offered by its lyophilized formulation.
On June 15, 2026, the Drug Clinical Trial Registration and Information Publicity Platform showed that United Laboratories registered a Phase III clinical trial for UBT251 injection (overweight/obesity).
This is aA Randomized, Double-Blind, Parallel-Group, Placebo-Controlled Phase III Study Designed toTo evaluate the efficacy and safety of UBT251 injection in overweight/obese trial participants. The primary endpoint isPercent change in body weight from baseline after 52 weeks of dosing, andProportion of trial participants with a weight reduction of ≥5% from baseline.
UBT251 is a long-acting GLP-1/GIP/GCG triple receptor agonist. To date, it has been approved to conduct clinical trials in China and/or the United States for multiple indications, including type 2 diabetes in adults, overweight/obesity, chronic kidney disease, and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH).
In March 2025, Novo NordiskAcquired for $2 billionUBT251 The rights to develop, manufacture, and commercialize globally (excluding Mainland China, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, the Macao Special Administrative Region, and Taiwan). Fed Pharma will retain the rights to UBT251 in Mainland China, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, the Macao Special Administrative Region, and Taiwan.
In February 2026, United Laboratories announced UBT251InPositive results achieved in Phase II clinical studies among overweight/obese patients in China. The relevant findings were prominently presented as a Late-Breaking Abstract (LBA) at the 2026 ADA Scientific Sessions.
Recently, Structure Therapeutics announced that its core pipeline asset, the oral small-molecule GLP-1 receptor agonist Aleniglipron (GSBR-1290), has officially registered two global Phase III clinical trials: the ACCOMPLISH-1 study targeting obesity or overweight with weight-related comorbidities, and the ACCOMPLISH-2 study targeting obesity or overweight with type 2 diabetes.
ACCOMPLISH-1 plans to enroll 3,600 subjects, with primary data readout expected by March 2027; ACCOMPLISH-2 plans to enroll 1,100 subjects, with initial evaluation expected by September 2028. Both studies are multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials employing once-daily oral administration. The dosing regimen starts at 2.5 mg, with dose escalation every 4 weeks. All subjects will receive treatment for at least 76 weeks. The primary endpoint for both studies is the percentage change in body weight from baseline.
In the previous Phase IIb clinical trial, Aleniglipron demonstrated substantial weight-loss potential: with a 120 mg dose, the average weight reduction was 11.3% after 36 weeks of treatment and reached 16.2% after 56 weeks; with a 180 mg dose, the average weight reduction was 16.3% after 44 weeks of treatment, and no obvious plateau in weight loss was observed. The company regards it as a potential “best-in-class” product.
As planned, the Phase III clinical trial is scheduled to officially launch in July 2026, with key data expected to be read out by the end of 2028. If progress remains on track, Aleniglipron is poised for regulatory approval and market launch in 2029. Financially, Shuodi Biologics currently holds a cash reserve of approximately $1.5 billion, sufficient to cover R&D expenditures through 2028. In addition to Aleniglipron, the company is advancing an amylin receptor agonist and GLP-1RA combination therapy, continuing to build its pipeline of oral obesity treatments.
2026YearJune17Day，Center for Drug Evaluation (CDE), National Medical Products Administrationshows,CSPC Pharmaceutical Group'sIdaglutide αSubmission of New Indication for Marketing Approval. Based on the progress of clinical trials, the indication is speculated to be type 2 diabetes.
Idaglutide αAn injection of recombinant human glucagon-like peptide-1 (hGLP-1) Fc fusion protein, administered once weekly.Idaglutide α can selectively bind to and activate the GLP-1 receptor, achieving weight loss through mechanisms such as appetite suppression and reduced food intake. It also lowers blood glucose in a glucose concentration-dependent manner and improves cardiovascular and metabolic parameters.
As of now, CSPC Pharmaceutical Group hasIdaglutide α co-Conducted three Phase III clinical trials:
SYSA1803-013 (n=675): Designed to evaluateEfficacy and Safety of Idaglutide Alpha Versus Placebo in Obese or Overweight Subjects Without Type 2 Diabetes
SYSA1803-009（n=618）：Aimed at evaluatingIdaglutide α(7.5 mg or 15 mg, once weekly)Metformin CombinationContrast-Enhanced Glycopeptide(1.5 mg, once weekly)Efficacy and Safety of Combination Therapy with Metformin in Subjects with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus with Inadequate Glycemic Control on Metformin Monotherapy
SYSA1803-010（n=450）：Aimed at evaluatingEfficacy and Safety of Efglutide α (7.5 mg or 15 mg, Once Weekly) Versus Placebo in Subjects with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus with Inadequate Glycemic Control on Diet and Exercise Alone
2026YearJune18Day，Hengrui Medicine and U.S.-based Kailera Therapeutics (Kailera) jointly announced that the Phase III clinical trial (OUTSTAND-2) of the oral small-molecule GLP-1 receptor agonist HRS-7535 (known as KAI-7535 outside Greater China) conducted in 810 adult patients with type 2 diabetes in China achieved positive top-line results.. At 32 weeks, primary endpoint data showed that the HRS-7535 dose groups achieved a reduction in HbA1c of 1.50% to 1.68%.
Based on the positive topline results from the OUTSTAND-1 and OUTSTAND-2 studies, Hengrui Medicine plans to submit a marketing application in China this year for HRS-7535 for the treatment of type 2 diabetes; HRS-7535 is indicated forIndications for Overweight or ObesityThe Phase III clinical trial in China (HARBOR-1) is ongoing, with relevant data expected to be disclosed in 2026. Kailera is currently conducting a global Phase II clinical trial of KAI-7535 for the treatment of obesity.
Regarding OUTSTAND-2 (HRS-7535-302)Clinical Trial
The OUTSTAND-2 clinical trial (protocol number: HRS-7535-302) is a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, dapagliflozin-controlled Phase III clinical trial conducted by Jiangsu Hengrui Medicine Co., Ltd. in China (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT06589765). The study aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of HRS-7535 in adult patients (aged 18–75 years) with type 2 diabetes mellitus who have inadequate glycemic control following metformin treatment. A total of 810 subjects were enrolled and randomly assigned in a 1:1:1:1 ratio to receive once-daily oral treatment with HRS-7535 at doses of 30 mg, 60 mg, or 90 mg, or dapagliflozin at 10 mg. The primary endpoint was the change from baseline in HbA1c at Week 32 of treatment. The core treatment period lasted 32 weeks, after which all subjects entered an extended treatment period through Week 52.
About HRS-7535 (KAI-7535)
Leveraging its forward-looking strategic layout in the field of metabolic diseases, Hengrui Medicine has established a leading and differentiated GLP-1 asset portfolio and a robust pipeline of next-generation innovations, dedicated to comprehensively addressing significant unmet clinical needs in obesity and broader therapeutic areas.
HRS-7535 is an orally administered, small-molecule glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist independently developed by Jiangsu Hengrui Medicine Co., Ltd. It features a once-daily oral dosing regimen, with absorption unaffected by food or water intake, thereby eliminating the need for strict fasting conditions or post-dose waiting periods and offering flexible and convenient administration. In addition to the OUTSTAND series of trials, HRS-7535 is currently undergoing multiple Phase II–III clinical studies in China, covering various indications including weight management (the HARBOR series of trials) and chronic kidney disease (the RENEW-CKD trial).