A global commission has proposed a fundamental change to the way obesity is defined and diagnosed. If the change is implemented, obesity would be considered a health risk in some contexts, and a disease in others. “The commission is reframing obesity... in a way that allows for the nuanced reality of obesity,” Robert Eckel told reporters at a press briefing announcing the proposal, which was published online in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology on Jan. 14, 2025.
A global commission has proposed a fundamental change to the way obesity is defined and diagnosed. If the change is implemented, obesity would be considered a health risk in some contexts, and a disease in others. “The commission is reframing obesity... in a way that allows for the nuanced reality of obesity,” Robert Eckel told reporters at a press briefing announcing the proposal, which was published online in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology on Jan. 14, 2025.
CSPC Pharmaceutical Group Ltd. on Jan. 13 gained the National Medical Products Administration’s approval of Shanzeping (prusogliptin tablets; DBPR-108) as a novel oral dipeptidyl peptidase-IV (DPP-4) inhibitor to treat adult patients with type 2 diabetes.
In a deal potentially worth $810 million for Regenxbio Inc., Nippon Shinyaku Co. Ltd. is partnering on the U.S. and Asian development and commercialization of iduronate-2-sulfatase enzyme RGX-121 for Hunter syndrome and RGX-111 for Hurler syndrome.
Canary Cure Therapeutics (Canary Global Inc.) has released preclinical results for its lead candidate, CCT-217, an siRNA therapeutic targeting cannabinoid CB1 receptor (CB1R) and zinc finger protein 423 (ZFP423) to treat obesity.
Dyne Therapeutics Inc. is eyeing accelerated approval for its myotonic dystrophy type 1 treatment after reviewing new results from a phase I/II study. DYNE-101, an oligonucleotide antisense and DMPK gene modulator, produced results on disease biomarkers that included DMPK and splicing correction, disease progression reversal on several functional endpoints and a favorable safety profile. The accelerated approval submission could come in the first half of 2026.
New Anglo/U.S. obesity and cardiometabolic specialist Verdiva Bio Ltd. has launched with a massive $411 million series A and a portfolio of GLP-1 and amylin agonists in-licensed from China.
Alesta Therapeutics BV has closed an oversubscribed €65 million (US$67 million) series A financing round designed to support development of its two small-molecule therapeutics.
With obesity drugs taking the U.S. and global markets by storm and more than 100 clinical programs currently in progress for the drugs, the U.S. FDA released a draft guidance Jan. 7 to help sponsors develop drugs and biologics for weight reduction and long-term maintenance of body weight.
Sana Biotechnology Inc. CEO Steve Harr said “cool and transformative science” led to his firm’s latest strides in type 1 diabetes, and the “very generalizable [clinical] result” cheered Wall Street, which led shares of the Seattle-based firm (NASDAQ:SANA) to close Jan. 8 at $4.30 up $2.65, or 160.6%. “I believe we now have all of the pieces in place to move forward rapidly,” Harr said.
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