China’s Pegbio Co. Ltd. launched its IPO on the Hong Kong stock exchange May 19, to raise up to HK$300.82 million (US$38.4 million) to advance visepegenatide (PB-119), its glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist.

The merger of Protagenic Therapeutics Inc. and Phytanix Bio Inc. combines two different approaches to treating obesity and metabolic issues. The all-stock deal will merge Protagenic’s peptide candidate in IND-enabling development for treating depression, anxiety, posttraumatic stress disorder and additional indications, along with Phytanix’s cannabinoid and cannabinoid-like molecules for bladder pain syndrome and treatment-resistant focal seizures.

Cancer cachexia is a devastating condition that affects up to 80% of advanced cancer patients and causes approximately 2 million deaths worldwide annually. Cancer cachexia is characterized by uncontrolled weight loss and severe muscle wasting. Despite its significant impact, effective treatments remain elusive.

The search continues for effective treatments against metabolic syndrome and its related complication, diabetes. Current treatments fail in many patients to provide long-term glycemic control or lead to weight loss.

At the recent American Society of Gene and Cell Therapy (ASGCT) meeting, Wave Life Sciences Ltd. presented siRNAs designed to suppress expression of the liver gene inhibin subunit β E (INHBE). Human genetic data show that heterozygous INHBE loss-of-function carriers exhibit a healthy metabolic profile.

It’s been a big week for Inozyme Pharma Inc. On the heels of a promising interim readout for phase III-stage enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) candidate INZ-701 in ENPP1 deficiency, the firm agreed to be acquired by Biomarin Pharmaceuticals Inc. in a deal valued at about $270 million, putting the rare disease ERT in the hands of an experienced commercial team.

Using a customized gene editing therapy, researchers at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia have reported success in treating an infant with a severe metabolic disorder. Kiran Musunuru, Barry J. Gertz Professor for Translational Research in the University of Pennsylvania’s Perelman School of Medicine, presented the case at the American Society of Gene and Cell Therapy’s 2025 annual meeting. The case study was simultaneously published in The New England Journal of Medicine.

Abcellera Biologics Inc. has received a no objection letter from Health Canada authorizing its clinical trial application (CTA) for ABCL-635.

Metabolic disorders such as argininosuccinic and glutaric aciduria, methylmalonic acidemia, homocystinuria or primary hyperoxaluria require specific diets to prevent the accumulation of substances that the body can’t process. Current treatments mainly focus on managing symptoms and metabolite levels, and do not always prevent the progressive deterioration caused by mutations associated with the condition. However, emerging gene therapies hold promise for transforming these diseases by targeting their underlying causes, as presented in the oral abstract session, “Gene and cell therapy for metabolic diseases” of the ongoing 28th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Gene & Cell Therapy (ASGCT) meeting in New Orleans.