Resalis Therapeutics Srl closed a €10 million (US$10.6 million) seed round to progress toward the clinic a micro-RNA (miR) inhibitor in development for metabolic disease indications. Riccardo Panella, chief scientific officer and founder, identified the potential of a particular miR species, miR-22, as a target for metabolic syndrome while conducting studies on its potential role in oncology while at Harvard Medical School and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center.
Microbio (Shanghai) Co. Ltd. has synthesized glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor (GLP1R) agonists reported to be useful for the treatment of obesity, type 2 diabetes and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.
Obesity is an important cause of death worldwide, and it is defined as a body mass index >30 kg/m2. Genome-wide association studies have been successful at identifying genomic loci tied to obesity.
Treatment with the fusion protein QL-1005 reduced caloric intake and body weight in mice and primates. In obese animals, it also improved insulin, fasting glucose and triglyceride levels. The design belongs to the Chinese biopharmaceutical company Beijing QL Biopharmaceutical, which will begin clinical trials in a year.
Sciwind Biosciences Co. Ltd. started dosing in a phase III clinical trial in China of its ecnoglutide (XW-003) candidate in adults with type 2 diabetes, targeting patients who have not responded adequately to either metformin or changes in lifestyle.
Novo Nordisk A/S has identified novel fatty acid modified urocortin 2 derivatives acting as CRF2 receptor agonists reported to be useful for the treatment of obesity and type 2 diabetes.
Sciwind Biosciences Co. Ltd. started dosing in a phase III clinical trial in China of its ecnoglutide (XW-003) candidate in adults with type 2 diabetes, targeting patients who have not responded adequately to either metformin or changes in lifestyle.
