CT-388 vs Zovaglutide: What do the trials actually show?
CT-388 activates both GLP-1 and GIP receptors and has been tested as a weekly injection. Zovaglutide activates GLP-1 and has been tested as a monthly injection. Neither is approved, and no trial has compared them directly. Their reported weight-loss figures come from different studies with different follow-up periods.
CT-388 vs Zovaglutide (ZT-002) at a glance
| CT-388 | Zovaglutide (ZT-002) | |
|---|---|---|
| Targets | GLP-1 and GIP | GLP-1 |
| Trial schedule | Once weekly | Once every four weeks in the monthly-dose study |
| Reported result | 22.5% placebo-adjusted weight loss at 48 weeks, highest tested dose (company-reported Phase 2 result) | 13.8% reduction from baseline at 24 weeks, monthly-dose group (company-reported Phase 2 result) |
| Head-to-head trial | None against zovaglutide | None against CT-388 |
| US approval | Not approved | Not approved |
Evidence tier
CT-388
Roche reported Phase 2 results at the highest tested dose. The headline number is placebo-adjusted, not simply weight lost from baseline. See the Roche Phase 2 release for the study's reported results and limitations.
Zovaglutide (ZT-002)
QL Biopharm reported Phase 2 monthly-dose results at a shorter follow-up. The headline number is change from baseline, not placebo-adjusted loss. A later study, HORIZON-1, is registered; its existence does not establish a comparative outcome. See the Phase 2 announcement.
How each one works
CT-388
A dual GLP-1/GIP receptor agonist. Both targets are involved in appetite and blood-sugar signaling.
Zovaglutide
A long-acting GLP-1 receptor agonist being studied for less frequent injections.
What the evidence shows
The reported results cannot be ranked as if the drugs were tested together. The CT-388 result is placebo-adjusted at 48 weeks; the zovaglutide result is a reduction from baseline at 24 weeks. Trial participants, doses and reporting also differ. These are investigational findings, not evidence that one works better for the same patient.
What are the key differences?
- CT-388 targets two receptors; zovaglutide targets one.
- CT-388 was tested weekly; zovaglutide was tested every four weeks in its monthly-dose study.
- The widely quoted trial percentages use different baselines and durations, so they are not directly comparable.
- Neither has an approved US prescribing label or established long-term real-world safety record.
Are they used together?
No clinical evidence establishes a combined CT-388 and zovaglutide regimen. Both act on GLP-1 signaling; do not infer that using them together would improve outcomes or be safe.
Safety and legal status
Both drugs remain investigational. Stomach-related adverse effects have been reported in their studies. Roche reported treatment discontinuation due to adverse events in 5.9% across CT-388 arms versus 1.3% on placebo in its Phase 2 release; that figure is not a direct comparison with zovaglutide. Neither product has a US-approved label, and trial formulations and oversight are not equivalent to products sold online.
Common questions
Is CT-388 better than zovaglutide for weight loss?
There is no head-to-head trial. The available headline figures come from separate studies with different durations and different methods of reporting weight loss, so they cannot establish which is better.
How often were CT-388 and zovaglutide given in trials?
CT-388 was tested as a weekly injection. Zovaglutide was tested as an injection every four weeks in a Phase 2 monthly-dose study. These are research schedules, not approved prescribing instructions.
Are CT-388 or zovaglutide FDA approved?
No. Both remain investigational and neither has a US-approved prescribing label.
Can CT-388 and zovaglutide be used together?
No clinical trial establishes the safety or benefit of using them together. Both act on GLP-1 signaling.
Keep reading
Full compound pages: CT-388 and Zovaglutide (ZT-002). To line these up against anything else in the library, use the compare tool.