Verdiva Bio has discontinued a Phase 2 trial evaluating oral GLP-1 candidate VRB-101 for weight loss maintenance, citing a business decision driven by market evolution rather than safety concerns. The trial enrolled eight patients who had achieved weight loss on semaglutide or tirzepatide. Verdiva continues to advance VRB-101 for other obesity indications and in combination with amylin assets licensed from Sciwind Biosciences.
Discontinuation of the VRB-101 trial
- ▪The canceled Phase 2 trial was evaluating oral VRB-101 in patients who had lost 10% or more body weight on semaglutide or tirzepatide, and had enrolled eight patients prior to cancellation.
- ▪Verdiva Bio described the trial discontinuation as a business decision driven by market evolution rather than safety concerns.
- ▪Verdiva Bio discontinued a Phase 2 clinical trial evaluating oral GLP-1 candidate VRB-101 as a weight maintenance treatment for patients with overweight and obesity.
Other VRB-101 development programs
- ▪Verdiva Bio continues to advance oral VRB-101 for other weight loss indications as both a monotherapy and in combination with its two amylin assets.
- ▪Verdiva Bio completed a separate Phase 2 study of VRB-101 called EVOLVE-2 in July 2026, though results from the study have not yet been released.
Ecnoglutide Phase 2 results
- ▪In June 2026, Sciwind Biosciences reported Phase 2 SLIMMER-UP-SWITCH trial data from China showing subcutaneous ecnoglutide achieved 12.8% weight loss versus 9.5% for semaglutide at 20 weeks, 35% greater (163 patients).
- ▪Sciwind Biosciences reported that the weight loss difference between subcutaneous ecnoglutide and semaglutide in its Phase 2 trial reached statistical significance.
Verdiva's licensing deal with Sciwind
- ▪Verdiva Bio acquired two amylin analogs from Sciwind Biosciences, consisting of a weekly oral treatment candidate and a long-acting subcutaneous injection candidate.
- ▪Verdiva Bio licensed VRB-101 and two amylin assets from Sciwind Biosciences in 2024 for $70 million upfront and up to $2.4 billion in potential milestone payments.
Verdiva Bio profile and background
- ▪Verdiva Bio launched in January 2025 after securing $411 million in Series A financing to develop cardiometabolic therapies.
- ▪Verdiva Bio is a private biotech firm seeking to compete in the obesity market against established drugmakers Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly.
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