Phase IIb data of Metsera Inc.’s lead GLP-1 receptor agonist, MET-097i, showed significant weight loss and good tolerability, supporting a phase III start later this year, and validating Pfizer Inc.’s decision a week ago to buy the obesity-focused company for $7.3 billion.
Crinetics Pharmaceuticals Inc.’s green light under priority review from the U.S. FDA for Palsonify (paltusotine) in first-line acromegaly sets up a not-uncommon David vs. Goliath-type scenario in the indication caused by excessive growth hormone made by the pituitary gland.
The Scripps Research Institute has disclosed peptides and their drug conjugates acting as dual gastric inhibitory polypeptide receptor (GIPR) and glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor (GLP-1R) agonists reported to be useful for the treatment of diabetes, metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease and obesity.
KAYO-1732 is a novel, orally available, small-molecule inhibitor of the aldehyde dehydrogenase 1A3 (ALDH1A3) enzyme, being developed for the treatment of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disorders.
After a phase III stumble, Acadia Pharmaceuticals Inc. will drop development of ACP-101, intranasal carbetocin, to treat hyperphagia in patients with the rare genetic disorder Prader-Willi syndrome. Top-line data from the 12-week, double-blind, randomized phase III study missed its primary endpoint by not producing a statistically significant improvement over placebo.
Beijing QL Biopharmaceutical Co. Ltd.’s once-monthly GLP-1 receptor agonist, zovaglutide (ZT-002), met its primary and secondary endpoints in a phase II obesity trial, and QL Biopharm will now advance the GLP-1 to a pivotal phase III study.
Pfizer Inc. bounced back in a big way from a GLP-1 trip-up this spring by making known its plan to take over what Metsera Inc. CEO Whit Bernard has called the “scale-obsessed” obesity player that he steers. Pfizer has agreed to pay $47.50 each for all of Metsera’s outstanding shares.
Obesity is a multifactorial metabolic disorder with limited treatment options capable of sustaining weight loss and improving systemic metabolic health. MicroRNA-22 (miR-22) has emerged as an essential regulator of metabolic homeostasis, influencing lipid biosynthesis, mitochondrial function and brown adipose tissue development. These roles position miR-22 as a promising target for therapeutic intervention in obesity and related disorders such as metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic disease (MASLD) and its progressive disease state, metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH).
Genfit SA is discontinuing its VS-01 program in acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF), and has decided to reprioritize development of VS-01 for urea cycle disorder.
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