Endocrine/metabolic

D&D’s zabopegdutide shows more upbeat top-line phase II MASH data

Tue, 02 Jun 2026 12:00:00 -0400

D&D Pharmatech Inc. announced May 27 positive top-line tissue biopsy results of zabopegdutide (DD-01) from a 48-week phase II study of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), pushing company shares up 30% on the day.

Hanmi, Haisco win billion-dollar partnerships with Eli Lilly

Tue, 02 Jun 2026 12:00:00 -0400

Hanmi Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. secured a $1.26 billion deal with Eli Lilly and Co. to out-license ex-Korea rights to sonefpeglutide (HM-15912), a Lapscovery-based glucagon-like peptide-2 analog in development for multiple indications, including an ongoing phase II study of short bowel syndrome. It was one of two billion-dollar Asian company deals signed by Lilly on June 1, with the second transaction involving Haisco Pharmaceutical Group Co. Ltd., of Beijing.

AX-2911 shows in vivo activity by correcting PNPLA3 in MASH

Tue, 02 Jun 2026 09:00:00 -0400

Alterations in PNPLA3, particularly the I148M variant, impair lipid metabolism in hepatocytes, leading to lipid accumulation and driving progression from steatosis to fibrosis and cirrhosis. Targeting this genetic driver may offer a strategy to reduce steatosis and limit disease progression.

PRD-001 shows synergy with Rezdiffra for treating MASH

Tue, 02 Jun 2026 09:00:00 -0400

Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) is characterized by lipid accumulation in the liver and inflammation. Sterol O-acyltransferase 2 (SOAT2) is a key enzyme in intestinal absorption and hepatic secretion of cholesterol. PRD Therapeutics Inc. has developed PRD-001, a selective SOAT2 inhibitor currently in phase I trials for MASH.

Hanmi, Haisco win billion-dollar partnerships with Eli Lilly

Mon, 01 Jun 2026 12:00:00 -0400

Muna Therapeutics discloses TREM2 agonists

Mon, 01 Jun 2026 09:00:00 -0400

Muna Therapeutics Aps has patented new dihydropyrrolopyrimidinone compounds acting as triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells 2 (TREM2) agonists potentially useful for the treatment of osteoporosis, rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, type 2 diabetes, obesity, metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD; NAFLD), neurodegeneration and inflammatory bowel disease, among others.

Deep Apple Therapeutics synthesizes GIPR antagonists

Mon, 01 Jun 2026 09:00:00 -0400

Deep Apple Therapeutics Inc. has divulged new alkylphenyl substituted compounds acting as gastric inhibitory polypeptide receptor (GIPR) antagonists potentially useful for the treatment of obesity and type 2 diabetes.

Sharp Therapeutics identifies lead chemical series for Niemann-Pick disease

Fri, 29 May 2026 09:00:00 -0400

Sharp Therapeutics Corp. has reported new preclinical data supporting its novel therapeutic approach for Niemann-Pick disease type C (NPC).

Abbott receives CE mark for dual glucose, ketone sensing systems

Thu, 28 May 2026 12:00:00 -0400

Abbott Laboratories received CE mark approval for two dual glucose and ketone sensing systems, bringing to the market sensors that could be transformational to the lives of people with diabetes at risk of diabetic ketoacidosis.

Zhongshan Laibo Ruichen Biomedicine discloses new polypeptides for osteoporosis

Thu, 28 May 2026 09:00:00 -0400

Zhongshan Laibo Ruichen Biomedicine Co. Ltd. has patented new polypeptides and their drug conjugates potentially useful for the treatment of osteoporosis.

Protuoso Biosciences building multifunctional protein engineering platform

Thu, 28 May 2026 09:00:00 -0400

Protuoso Biosciences has announced the close of an oversubscribed $9.5 million seed financing round, the proceeds of which will be used to advance its multifunctional protein engineering platform and broad pipeline across cardiometabolic, oncology and autoimmune diseases.

D&D’s zabopegdutide shows more upbeat top-line phase II MASH data

Wed, 27 May 2026 12:00:00 -0400

Insulet initiates voluntary correction on Omnipod devices

Wed, 27 May 2026 12:00:00 -0400

Insulet Corp. has initiated a voluntary medical device correction affecting insulin pump pods in its Omnipod product lines after discovering a manufacturing issue that could lead to the leaking of insulin and the under-delivery of doses in some patients. The company said that some pods from specific lots may have a small tear in the cannula.

New GLP-1R agonists described in MSD patent

Wed, 27 May 2026 09:00:00 -0400

Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC (MSD) has disclosed new glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor (GLP-1R) agonists potentially useful for the treatment of obesity and type 2 diabetes.

Kallyope reports new GRPR agonists

Wed, 27 May 2026 09:00:00 -0400

Kallyope Inc. has identified new gastrin-releasing peptide receptor (GRPR) agonists potentially useful for the treatment of gastrointestinal disorders and obesity.

Newcelx submits pre-IND package for NCEL-101 to FDA

Wed, 27 May 2026 09:00:00 -0400

Newcelx Ltd. has submitted a pre-IND briefing package to the U.S. FDA to support a proposed first-in-human trial of NCEL-101 in combination with tegoprubart, an investigational anti-CD40L monoclonal antibody being developed by Eledon Pharmaceuticals Inc.

AhR you ready for this? A new (or not-so-new) approach in UC

Tue, 26 May 2026 12:00:00 -0400

Upbeat phase II news lately from Spyre Therapeutics Inc. in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) perked not only the company’s stock but also wider interest in the buzzing space, where developers big and small are trying to tackle such chronic bedevilments as Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis (UC).

Addition Therapeutics presents approach for Fabry disease

Tue, 26 May 2026 09:00:00 -0400

Fabry disease is a lysosomal storage disease tied to the X chromosome and caused by pathogenic variants in the GLA gene encoding galactosidase A. It is characterized by progressive accumulation of galactosidase A substrates, including Gb3 and lyso-Gb3, mainly in the kidney, heart and nervous system.

EMA poised to be 4th regulator approving Boehringer’s Jascayd lung drug

Fri, 22 May 2026 12:00:00 -0400

As generic versions of its blockbuster drug Ofev (nintedanib) start to hit the market, Boehringer Ingelheim GmbH looks to have swerved the patent cliff, with European and Japanese regulators both approving a potential replacement, Jascayd (nerandomilast), this week. At its monthly meeting, the EMA’s Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use also recommended Novartis AG’s Vijoice (alpelisib) be given conditional approval in the treatment of PIK3CA-related overgrowth spectrum disorders.

Selection Therapeutics identifies new Kv1.3 blockers

Fri, 22 May 2026 09:00:00 -0400

Selection Therapeutics GmbH has discovered new potassium voltage-gated channel subfamily A member 3 (KCNA3; Kv1.3) blockers potentially useful for the treatment of autoimmune disease, diabetes, obesity, periodontitis and transplant rejection.

Menstrual ‘footprints’ may act as broad personal health markers

Fri, 22 May 2026 09:00:00 -0400

WAVES, an algorithm designed to extract menstrual-cycle metrics from physiological signals such as basal body temperature, which oscillates with sex hormones, shows how different parameters change with age and helps determine whether each person maintains a stable individual pattern or personal footprint. A study based on data from 5,674 cycles from 753 women demonstrates through this tool that age is associated with higher temperatures, shorter cycles, and greater irregularity. In addition, several metrics show within-person stability, suggesting they could serve as personalized health markers.

Another Triumph: Lilly’s triple G agonist scores in obesity

Thu, 21 May 2026 12:00:00 -0400

Posting another win for its triple G agonist, Eli Lilly and Co. rolled out top-line phase III data from Triumph-1 showing that all doses of retatrutide met primary and key secondary endpoints for obesity, with participants losing on average between 19% and 28.3% of body weight and significantly improving their cardiovascular risk factors.

‘Detargeted’ targeted gene therapy improves activity in Pompe

Wed, 20 May 2026 09:00:00 -0400

A new strategy aims to improve gene therapy for Pompe disease by optimizing both the genetic component that restores the function of a deficient lysosomal enzyme and the vector that delivers it to the target tissue while avoiding the liver. The findings suggest that combining an optimized transgene with a targeted capsid could significantly enhance the effectiveness of gene therapy for Pompe disease.

Vincentage’s oral GLP-1 meets phase III obesity endpoints

Tue, 19 May 2026 12:00:00 -0400

Vincentage Pharma Co. Ltd.’s once-daily oral small-molecule GLP-1 receptor agonist, VCT-220, met the primary endpoints in a pivotal phase III trial in overweight or obese patients in China. Based on the top-line data, the Chengdu, China-based company plans to submit an NDA for chronic weight management to China’s National Medical Products Administration.

Korro Bio nominates new candidate for AATD

Tue, 19 May 2026 09:00:00 -0400

Korro Bio Inc. has announced the selection of KRRO-111 as a development candidate for the treatment of alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency (AATD), a genetic disorder most commonly caused by a single missense mutation in SERPINA1.

GPX-002 restores β-cell function in a diabetes model

Mon, 18 May 2026 09:00:00 -0400

Type 2 diabetes is marked by insulin resistance coupled with insufficient insulin secretion due to early β-cell dysfunction and progressive loss of β-cell mass. Pdx1 and MafA, critical for maintaining β-cell function, are progressively reduced under metabolic stress and in patients, driving disease progression. Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh have reported efficacy data demonstrating successful pancreatic delivery of GPX-002, an AAV-Pdx1/MafA construct, in HFD mice.

Harbour Biomed’s LET-003 shows promise for obesity

Mon, 18 May 2026 09:00:00 -0400

Harbour Biomed has released preclinical data for LET-003, a next-generation ACVR2A/2B-targeted monoclonal antibody with potential for the treatment of obesity. Activin receptors ACVR2A and ACVR2B play critical roles in regulating muscle-fat metabolic homeostasis.

Pfizer discloses new dual calcitonin/amylin receptor agonists

Thu, 14 May 2026 09:00:00 -0400

Pfizer Inc. has synthesized substituted fused heteroaryl lactam compounds acting as dual calcitonin (CALCR; CT-R)/amylin receptor agonists potentially useful for the treatment of obesity and type 2 diabetes.

In the mix post-Ventyx, more NLRP3s to seize?

Wed, 13 May 2026 12:00:00 -0400

Eli Lilly and Co.’s buyout of Ventyx Biosciences Inc. for $1.2 billion at the start of the year brought to the forefront NLR family pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) inhibitors on which a handful of developers have been working, and research in the space continues to roll out, as with the paper published March 26 in Nature that delved into mechanisms that rev up the NLRP3 inflammasome.

Nvision secures $55 million, with backing from Abbott

Wed, 13 May 2026 12:00:00 -0400

Nvision Imaging Technologies GmbH raised $55 million in a series B financing round led by Abbott Laboratories for its quantum-enhanced sensing platform, Polaris, which uses quantum technology to boost the MRI signal of sugar-based imaging agents to enable real-time measurement of metabolism on standard MRI systems. Sella Brosh, CEO and co-founder of Nvision, told BioWorld that the funds are extremely important as the company is scaling the Polaris systems to many more sites worldwide, which is a capital intensive process.