Rani Therapeutics (RANI) said late Wednesday that new data from a preclinical study evaluating the oral delivery of semaglutide via the RaniPill, or RT-116, capsule demonstrated comparable "bioavailability, pharmacokinetics, and weight loss to subcutaneous administration."
The company said the new data adds to the "growing body of evidence" about RaniPill's potential to enable oral delivery of multiple obesity treatments. Shares jumped more than 42% in premarket activity Thursday.
The company plans to undertake a phase 1 clinical trial of RT-114 containing a GLP-1/GLP-2 dual agonist. The obesity trial will begin this year in partnership with ProGen.
Rani said semaglutide is currently only available as a subcutaneous injection to treat obesity. Novo Nordisk markets the treatment under the brand name Wegovy in the US.
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