Roche Obesity Shot Led to 18% Weight Loss in Study (1)

Roche Holding AG said patients on its experimental shot lost 18% more weight than those who got placebo in a study that will help set the stage for the Swiss drugmaker to compete in the lucrative obesity market.

Almost half of the volunteers treated with the highest dose shed 20% or more of their body weight by week 48 of the mid-stage trial, Roche said Tuesday.

The results are the first in a raft of mid-stage results due out this year from five key experimental drugs as Roche pushes to reach the top three of the obesity market despite ...