The takeaway
An experimental pill helped participants lose more weight than placebo. The trial was short, and digestive side effects were common.
What researchers tested
Researchers randomized 250 adults without diabetes at 13 Chinese sites. Everyone received lifestyle counseling. VCT220 was tested at three doses, with two schedules for reaching the highest dose.
Percent of starting weight; two schedules reached 160 mg
Original visual based on the study.
| Group or measure | Result |
|---|---|
| 80 mg | 5.75% |
| 120 mg | 7.42% |
| 160 mg, slow | 9.40% |
| 160 mg, fast | 9.73% |
| Placebo | 1.61% |
What changed
At 16 weeks, estimated weight loss was 5.75% with 80 mg, 7.42% with 120 mg, and 9.40% or 9.73% with the two 160 mg schedules. Placebo participants lost 1.61%.
The analysis included all randomized participants and estimated missing measurements. These are group averages, not promised results.
The trade-offs
Digestive side effects affected about 68% taking VCT220 versus 28% taking placebo. Three participants taking VCT220 and one taking placebo stopped treatment because of adverse events. Three serious events occurred with VCT220; none were judged drug-related.
Sixteen weeks cannot establish lasting weight maintenance or long-term safety. Participants were predominantly young Han Chinese adults. This was not a comparison with semaglutide or tirzepatide.
Who funded it?
Chengdu Vincentage Pharma funded the trial; sponsor employees participated in its design and interpretation.
Sources
Ji and colleagues, Signal Transduction and Targeted Therapy, 2026