Wave Life Sciences released new interim findings Monday from its Phase 1 INLIGHT study, placing the company among several biotechs presenting obesity-related data on the same day. The update came as shares of multiple companies in the weight-loss drug space climbed during early trading.
Wave’s report focused on its investigational small-interfering RNA therapy, WVE-007, which the company believes may match the weight-loss effects of GLP-1 medicines while avoiding the muscle loss often associated with that drug class.
The interim data arrive at a time when research activity in next-generation metabolic treatments is rapidly expanding. Established developers such as Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly continue to lead the space, with additional challengers, including Viking Therapeutics, advancing their own programs. Wave’s candidate was designed to silence INHBE mRNA, which the company has described as an obesity-related target supported by human genetic findings.
The Phase 1 results summarized outcomes three months after participants received either a placebo or a single 240-mg subcutaneous dose of WVE-007. According to Wave, patients in the treatment group experienced a 9.4% reduction in visceral fat and a 4.5% decline in total body fat—equivalent to roughly 3.5 pounds—alongside a 3.2% rise in lean mass.
No statistically meaningful shifts were observed in the placebo group, which recorded a 0.2% decrease in visceral fat, a 0.5% drop in total body fat, and a 2.3% increase in lean mass.
The company noted that overall body-weight change in the WVE-007 cohort reflected fat loss counterbalanced by increased lean mass, which it described as being composed primarily of muscle.
Analysts at Mizuho Securities characterized the findings as “overall very positive,” adding that the results came from the lowest tested dose and at an early time point in the study. They emphasized the preservation of lean mass and said the data underscored that the drug’s mechanism was performing as designed.
Beyond its potential impact on muscle retention, Wave highlighted that the therapy may ultimately be administered far less frequently than GLP-1 therapies. This prospect, combined with the interim results, contributed to a 116% jump in Wave’s share price by 10:30 a.m. ET Monday.
Paul Bolno, M.D., Wave’s CEO, said in the company’s announcement, “Today’s update demonstrates the tremendous potential of WVE-007 to transform the obesity treatment paradigm, addressing the biggest disadvantages of GLP-1s: fat loss at the expense of muscle, poor tolerability, including GI and other side effects, along with frequent dosing.”
He also stated that the company is preparing Phase 2 studies across several treatment settings, including monotherapy, add-on therapy to incretins, and maintenance therapy after incretin use.
The INLIGHT trial includes more than 100 adults with overweight or obesity, and participants were not asked to modify their diet or activity during the study. Wave has completed dosing across its 240-mg, 400-mg, and 600-mg groups, with additional analyses planned through 2026.
Further interim results reported Monday indicated that, after placebo adjustment, the lowest therapeutic dose produced a 9.2% reduction in visceral fat and a 0.9% increase in lean mass. Truist analysts described the dataset as impressive and suggested it supports expectations for upcoming longer-term readouts.
Wave plans to release six-month data for the 240-mg cohort and multiple readouts for the 400-mg and 600-mg groups in 2026. According to the company, WVE-007 functions by silencing mRNA encoding the INHBE protein, and individuals with naturally occurring loss-of-function variants in one copy of the gene exhibit what Wave characterized as healthier body composition.
The interim Phase 1 results have generated strong interest among obesity researchers and investors alike. If these early trends hold in the longer-term study, WVE-007 could represent a major advancement in the obesity treatment landscape by providing meaningful fat reduction while preserving lean mass.
Analysts at Mizuho Securities characterized the interim findings as “overall very positive,” adding that the results came from the lowest tested dose and at an early time point in the study. They emphasized the preservation of lean mass and said the data underscored that the drug’s mechanism was performing as designed.
Beyond its potential impact on muscle retention, Wave highlighted that the therapy may ultimately be administered far less frequently than GLP-1 therapies. This prospect, combined with the interim results, contributed to a 116% jump in Wave’s share price by 10:30 a.m. ET Monday.
