Chugai regains emugrobart rights — obesity program halted, SMA development to resume
- Roche will discontinue all future development of emugrobart and return the licensed rights to Chugai.
- Interim analysis from the Phase II GYMINDA study found achieving pre-specified clinically meaningful weight loss is unlikely; emugrobart was well tolerated with no new safety signals.
- Roche had previously halted emugrobart development for SMA and FSHD in March 2026; Chugai reviewed SC administration, safety, pharmacodynamics and long-term signals and identified a Phase III opportunity in SMA.
- Chugai is preparing to resume SMA development, considering out-licensing, and continuing anti-obesity discovery across multiple modalities with plans to advance several candidates into clinical trials over the next few years.
Obesity programme discontinued
Clinical development of emugrobart (GYM329), a subcutaneously administered anti-latent myostatin sweeping antibody, will be discontinued for obesity. The decision followed a comprehensive assessment including the interim analysis from the ongoing Phase II GYMINDA study, which evaluated emugrobart in combination with GLP-1/GIP receptor agonists in patients with obesity/overweight and concluded that meeting the pre-specified efficacy objectives for clinically meaningful weight loss is unlikely. Emugrobart was reported to be well tolerated and no new safety signals were observed.
Return of rights and SMA reassessment
Roche will end all future development of emugrobart and return the rights previously licensed from Chugai. After Roche’s March 2026 discontinuation of emugrobart for SMA and FSHD, Chugai reviewed the subcutaneous administration, safety profile, pharmacodynamics, clinical signals including long-term data, and Phase III design modifications, and identified an opportunity to support a Phase III study in SMA.
Next steps and financial note
Chugai has initiated preparations to resume development for SMA while exploring potential out-licensing opportunities and will continue anti-obesity drug discovery across multiple modalities with plans to advance several candidates into clinical trials over the next few years. The announcement is not expected to affect Chugai’s consolidated financial forecast for the fiscal year ending December 2026.
Source: Chugai Pharmaceutical