The 17th Annual Meeting of the Chinese American Diabetes Association (CADA) was held in New Orleans, United States. Innogen founder, Chairman and CEO Professor Qinghua Wang was invited to present clinical data and international development plans for the company’s original long-acting GLP-1 medicine, efsubaglutide alfa.
Image text and data — Presentation at the 17th CADA annual meeting
The screen in this meeting photograph identifies a presentation on efsubaglutide alfa by Qinghua Wang of Innogen Pharmaceuticals. A side banner names the Chinese-American Diabetes Association.
Two key efsubaglutide alfa studies in diabetes have appeared in international academic journals, adding evidence relating to islet function and diabetes remission. A study of remission in drug-naïve type 2 diabetes was published in Advances in Therapy, described in the article as a JCR Q1 pharmacology journal. Following 52 weeks of efsubaglutide alfa treatment, some participants achieved remission after stopping treatment. Greater improvement in HOMA-β was associated with a higher probability of remission, suggesting that recovery of β-cell function may be an important basis for sustained remission. [1]
SUPER 2 was subsequently published in Nature Communications. This randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study used a two-stage adaptive Phase IIb/III design. During Phase IIb, participants received 1 mg, 3 mg or placebo for 12 weeks; an independent committee selected 3 mg for Phase III based on efficacy and safety. Phase III compared 3 mg with placebo over 24 weeks of double-blind treatment. At week 12 of Phase IIb, HbA1c reductions were 1.10 and 1.43 percentage points in the 1 mg and 3 mg groups. At week 24 of Phase III, HbA1c fell by 1.80 points in the 3 mg group. Adverse events were mainly mild-to-moderate gastrointestinal reactions. The article presents SUPER 2 as further evidence of glucose lowering and mechanisms involving β-cell function. [2]
Efsubaglutide alfa is approved for type 2 diabetes in the Chinese mainland and Macao, China. The company is pursuing international clinical development in obesity, MASH and other indications, including assessment of weight management, body composition and metabolic fat deposition in overweight and obesity. In the Chinese Phase IIb study, 20 mg once weekly was associated with an approximately 45.3% increase in muscle-to-fat ratio and a 46.9% reduction in liver fat. The company sees these findings as a basis for further research into fat reduction, muscle preservation and abnormal fat accumulation. The study data were scheduled for poster presentation at the 2026 ADA Scientific Sessions.
Early research also found a half-life of approximately 280 hours in people with obesity, providing a pharmacokinetic basis for investigating longer dosing intervals. A Phase II study in Australia is assessing the feasibility of once-monthly administration.
Efsubaglutide alfa’s clinical data and development approach prompted discussion at CADA. Through this international scientific forum, Innogen aims to accelerate global trials and overseas commercialisation and provide new options for people with metabolic diseases worldwide.
References
[1] Sun R, Wang K, Yuan G, et al. Diabetes Remission in Drug-Naïve Patients with Type 2 Diabetes After Efsubaglutide Alfa Treatment. Advances in Therapy. 2026;43:1098–1108. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12325-025-03467-2
[2] Jia W, Gao F, Lu J, et al. Efsubaglutide alfa added to metformin improves glycaemia with β-cell functional responses in type 2 diabetes: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, two-stage adaptive phase 2b/3 trial (SUPER 2). Nature Communications. 2026;17:6222. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-026-72574-7
About Innogen
Founded in 2014, Innogen (HK.2591) is a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercialising innovative medicines for metabolic diseases. Its internally developed pipeline covers indications including type 1 diabetes (T1D), obesity, metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) and Alzheimer’s disease (AD), with international intellectual-property rights and a global patent strategy. Its core product, efsubaglutide alfa, is an internally developed, next-generation human-derived ultra-long-acting GLP-1 receptor agonist approved for type 2 diabetes in the Chinese mainland and Macao, China. It is included in the National Basic Medical Insurance, Maternity Insurance and Work Injury Insurance Drug List (2025). The product has entered international development and registration, with the aim of providing better treatment options to patients worldwide. For more information, visit www.innogenpharm.com.
Indication and medicine-use note
The original English article notes that efsubaglutide alfa was approved only for type 2 diabetes; the obesity indication remained investigational and unapproved. The article is for information only and does not constitute advertising, treatment advice or an efficacy claim. Prescription medicines should be used as directed by a physician.