Gan & Lee Pharmaceuticals’ Once-Weekly Insulin GZR4 Demonstrates Superior HbA1c Reduction in Phase III Trials

Gan & Lee Pharmaceuticals' Once-Weekly Insulin GZR4 Demonstrates Superior HbA1c Reduction in Phase III Trials

Gan & Lee Pharmaceuticals (SHA: 603087) announced that two pivotal Phase III clinical studies, SUPER-1 and SUPER-2, evaluating its independently developed once-weekly basal insulin candidate GZR4 injection, successfully met their pre-specified primary endpoints with superior glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) reduction compared to established daily basal insulins.

Clinical Trial Results

StudyComparatorPatient PopulationHbA1c Reduction (26 weeks)Result
SUPER-1Insulin glargine U100 (Lantus)588 insulin-naïve Chinese T2DM adults-1.45% vs -1.22%Statistically superior
SUPER-2Insulin degludec (Tresiba)631 previously insulin-treated Chinese T2DM adults-1.00% vs -0.58%Statistically superior

Drug Profile & Innovation

  • Molecule: GZR4 injection – ultra-long-acting once-weekly basal insulin
  • Administration: Single weekly subcutaneous injection
  • Mechanism: Designed to provide effective and stable glycemic control with improved convenience
  • Development Status: Independently developed by Gan & Lee Pharmaceuticals
  • Safety Profile: Favorable safety and tolerability demonstrated in both Phase III studies

Study Design Details

SUPER-1 Study

  • Population: 588 Chinese adult patients with type 2 diabetes (T2DM)
  • Insulin Status: Insulin-naïve (no prior insulin therapy)
  • Comparator: Once-daily insulin glargine U100 (Lantus)
  • Background Therapy: Both arms received non-insulin glucose-lowering drugs
  • Primary Endpoint: Change in HbA1c from baseline at 26 weeks

SUPER-2 Study

  • Population: 631 Chinese adult patients with T2DM
  • Insulin Status: Previously received basal insulin therapy
  • Comparator: Once-daily insulin degludec (Tresiba)
  • Background Therapy: With or without non-insulin glucose-lowering drugs
  • Primary Endpoint: Change in HbA1c from baseline at 26 weeks

Market Impact & Strategic Significance

  • Diabetes Treatment Landscape: Weekly basal insulin represents a significant advancement over current daily injection regimens, potentially improving patient adherence and quality of life
  • Competitive Positioning: GZR4 demonstrates superior efficacy against both Lantus (Sanofi) and Tresiba (Novo Nordisk), the two leading basal insulin products globally
  • Commercial Opportunity: China has over 140 million diabetes patients, representing the world’s largest diabetes market with substantial unmet needs for improved insulin therapies
  • Global Potential: Successful Phase III results position GZR4 for international regulatory submissions and potential global commercialization

Development Timeline & Next Steps

  • Regulatory Pathway: Gan & Lee expected to initiate New Drug Application (NDA) submissions to China NMPA in 2026
  • Global Expansion: Company likely to pursue international clinical development and regulatory filings following domestic approval
  • Manufacturing Scale-up: Commercial-scale manufacturing capabilities being prepared for potential market launch

Forward‑Looking Statements
This brief contains forward-looking statements regarding clinical trial results, regulatory submissions, and commercial potential for GZR4. Actual results may differ due to risks including regulatory decisions, competitive dynamics, and market acceptance.-Fineline Info & Tech