Wave Life Sciences Announces Positive Interim Data from Phase 1 INLIGHT Trial of WVE-007 for Obesity
Company Symbol: WVE
Date: December 8, 2025
Source: GlobeNewsWire
Positive Results from WVE-007 Trial
Wave Life Sciences Ltd. (Nasdaq: WVE), a biotechnology company dedicated to advancing RNA medicines, has unveiled promising interim results from the ongoing Phase 1 INLIGHT trial. This trial evaluates WVE-007, an investigational INHBE GalNAc-siRNA designed for obesity treatment. Following a single subcutaneous dose of 240 mg, participants experienced significant enhancements in body composition over a three-month period.
Notable Efficacy and Safety Results
The trial revealed that WVE-007 led to a 9.4% reduction in visceral fat (p=0.02), a 4.5% decrease in total body fat, representing a loss of approximately 3.5 lbs (p=0.07), and a 3.2% increase in lean mass, equivalent to 4.0 lbs (p=0.01). In contrast, the placebo group exhibited no statistically significant changes in these metrics.
Moreover, WVE-007 demonstrated a favorable safety profile, showing it to be generally safe and well tolerated. Adverse events reported were mild, with no serious treatment-related complications or significant alterations in laboratory assessments, including lipid profiles or liver function tests.
Mechanism of Action and Future Directions
This data reinforces the therapeutic potential of targeting INHBE and its associated protein, Activin E, which has been linked to improved body composition and reduced cardiometabolic risks. Individuals with specific variants of the INHBE gene display healthier body profiles, highlighting the drug's promising mechanism of action.
- WVE-007 aims for durable effects with once or twice-yearly dosing.
- Future phases will assess its efficacy as a monotherapy, along with its role as an add-on therapy to incretins for patients with higher BMI and relevant health issues.
Statements from Leadership and Experts
Paul Bolno, MD, MBA, President and CEO of Wave Life Sciences, emphasized the compelling results: “WVE-007’s data illustrates its potential to fundamentally reshape obesity treatment by achieving fat loss comparable to GLP-1s while preserving muscle mass.” He noted that trial planning for this innovative treatment is underway.
Angela Fitch, MD, Chief Medical Officer at knownwell, echoed this sentiment, stating that the development of a therapy administered once or twice a year could enhance access and long-term adherence in obesity treatment.
Upcoming Clinical Developments
Wave plans to share further updates regarding the INLIGHT clinical trial in the first quarter of 2026, including:
- Six-month follow-up data for the 240 mg single-dose cohort
- Three-month follow-up from the 400 mg single-dose cohort
Subsequent results from the 400 mg and 600 mg cohorts are also anticipated as plans for Phase 2 trials progress.
Investor Conference Call
Wave Life Sciences will host an investor conference call today at 8:30 a.m. ET to discuss the interim clinical data from the INLIGHT trial. Interested parties can access the webcast through the “Investor Events” section on the company's website.