There has been growing interest in developing novel cannabinoid CB1 receptor inverse agonists to treat obesity and its metabolic comorbidities. At the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) meeting, Inversago Pharma Inc. presented data on their CB1 receptor inverse agonist INV-347. The compound was shown to reduce body weight in diet-induced obese mice.
Korro Bio Inc. has established a collaboration with Novo Nordisk A/S to advance the discovery and development of new genetic medicines, initially to treat cardiometabolic diseases. The collaboration brings together Novo Nordisk’s deep cardiometabolic disease understanding and drug development experience with Korro’s proprietary platform to develop RNA editing product candidates for two undisclosed targets.
Recent findings have proposed the combination of two agonist mechanisms – glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) and fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) – to have a synergistic effect for the treatment of obesity and its associated comorbidities, including metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) and severe hypertriglyceridemia.
Biolexis Therapeutics Inc. has announced findings from a study of its oral small-molecule GLP-1 agonist, BLX-7006, in a diet-induced obesity model in mice. In the study, BLX-7006 achieved an average weight reduction of 15% over a 28-day period.
Novo Nordisk A/S has exercised an option to license a ligand identified by Kallyope Inc. for further development, including as a potential new approach for the treatment of obesity.
Orsobio Inc. has closed an oversubscribed $67 million series B financing, the proceeds of which will be used to accelerate development of its mitochondrial protonophore portfolio for the treatment of obesity and associated metabolic disorders.
The dark matter of long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) is shades brighter, after the signing of two major deals between biotech pioneers and big pharma in the past week. Haya Therapeutics SA announced Sept. 4 that it has sealed a multiyear agreement with Eli Lilly and Co. to apply its lncRNA platform technology to identify targets in obesity and related metabolic disorders.
Essential branched-chain amino acids (BCAA) such as leucine, isoleucine or valine, cannot be synthesized by mammals, making them an obligate part of the diet.
Purdue Research Foundation has synthesized proteolysis targeting chimeras (PROTACs) comprising a E3 ubiquitin ligase binding moiety covalently linked to a tyrosine-protein phosphatase non-receptor type 1 (PTPN1; PTP-1B) and 2 (PTPN2; TCPTP) dual targeting moiety reported to be useful for the treatment of cancer, type 2 diabetes and obesity.
The long struggle by Boston-based I2o Therapeutics Inc.’s business unit Intarcia Therapeutics to get long-lasting exenatide for diabetes onto the market ended with a final thumbs-down from the U.S. FDA because of safety concerns. At issue was ITCA-650, a twice-yearly implantable exenatide-device combo meant to improve glycemic control in adults with type 2 diabetes.