NLRP3 inflammasome is a key component of the innate immune system. As a major mediator of inflammation, NLRP3 plays a central role in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative and autoinflammatory conditions.
Bioage Labs Inc. is advancing its apelin receptor (APJ) agonist programs for obesity and other indications, and has entered into an option agreement with Jikang Therapeutics to license a novel APJ agonist nanobody.
Bioage Labs Inc. has nominated BGE-102 as a development candidate. The orally available, small-molecule NLRP3 inhibitor has high potency and high brain penetration.
Its lead program might have hit a safety snag, but Bioage Labs Inc.’s longevity data platform caught the attention of Novartis AG, which agreed to pay $20 million up front in a collaboration to identify drug targets for aging-related diseases. Taking into account potential long-term research, development and commercial milestones, the agreement could bring in up to an additional $530 million.
Less than three months after going public via a $227.7 million IPO, shares of Bioage Labs Inc. (NASDAQ:BIOA) took a hit Dec. 9, losing 77% of their value, as safety concerns prompted the company to halt its phase II trial testing oral obesity candidate azelaprag. The Strides study, launched in July, had been testing azelaprag, an oral apelin receptor agonist licensed from Amgen Inc., as a monotherapy and in combination with GLP-1/GIP therapy Zepbound (tirzepatide, Eli Lilly and Co.) in obesity.
South San Francisco-based Septerna Inc. filed an S-1 with the U.S. SEC to conduct an IPO on Nasdaq about two years and eight months after launching operations with a $100 million series A led by Third Rock Ventures. The company is focused on G protein-coupled receptor oral small molecules derived from its Native Complex Platform, aimed at treating diseases within the endocrinology, immunology and inflammation, and metabolic diseases realms.
Bioage Labs Inc. has synthesized NLRP3 inflammasome inhibitors reported to be useful for the treatment of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease and traumatic brain injury.
Bioage Labs Inc.’s $170 million series D financing will pay for phase II trials with azelaprag, an apelin receptor agonist, to be tried in combination with Zepbound (tirzepatide), the glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide receptor and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist from Bioage partner Eli Lilly and Co.
