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.
Apimeds Pharmaceuticals US Inc. (APUS), a subsidiary of Kospi-listed Inscobee Inc., said May 12 that it raised $13.5 million from its stock sale on the NYSE American exchange May 9 through an offering of 3.375 million shares at $4 per share. Hopewell, N.J.-based APUS is the second pharmaceutical company with Asian ties to float shares on the U.S. market this year.
Eli Lilly and Co. gained more oomph in its weight-loss battle with Novo Nordisk A/S, as the firm highlighted another batch of results from Surmount-5, a phase IIIb open-label trial evaluating the safety and efficacy of Zepbound (tirzepatide), a glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide receptor and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist compared to the Novo prospect Wegovy (semaglutide), a mono GLP-1 receptor agonist, in adults with obesity, or overweight with at least one weight-related medical problem and without diabetes.
Abnormal aggregation of α-synuclein is thought to contribute to the pathology of Parkinson’s disease, the second most frequent neurodegenerative disorder. Therefore, developing drugs that prevent such aggregation could be effective for slowing or even preventing the disease.
Bioxodes SA is gearing up fundraising for a follow-up study to the newly released interim phase IIa results of its lead asset in preventing secondary damage after an intracerebral hemorrhagic stroke. Data from the first 16 patients in the phase IIa study show BIOX-101 hit its primary safety and secondary endpoints in an indication that has no approved treatment.
Oral peptide delivery specialist Cyprumed GmbH is about to find out if the high bioavailability of its tablet formulations seen in animal models will translate across to humans, after signing a $493 million license and option agreement with Merck & Co. Inc.
At the recent European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ESCMID) meeting in Vienna, Longhorn Vaccines & Diagnostics LLC presented data on the neutralizing antibody responses of LHNVD-202, an unconjugated composite peptide vaccine.
Oral peptide delivery specialist Cyprumed GmbH is about to find out if the high bioavailability of its tablet formulations seen in animal models will translate across to humans, after signing a $493 million license and option agreement with Merck & Co. Inc.
FK506-binding protein-like (FKBPL) is an immunophilin protein family member with critical functions in physiological and pathological angiogenesis. Its therapeutic peptide derivative AD-01, currently a preclinical peptide candidate, targets angiogenesis via CD44. AD-01 acts both as a vascular stabilizer and an anti-inflammatory agent under pro-inflammatory conditions.
The latest obesity contender, Antag Therapeutics A/S, has dosed the first participants in a phase I trial of a glucose-dependent insulinotrophic polypeptide (GIP) agonist it said will address key gaps in the current treatment options, not least the gastrointestinal side effects seen with GLP-1 agonists.