Collaboration to Leverage ImmunoForge's ELP
Platform Technology Which Can Increase the Half-Life of a Drug by
up to 200 Times
CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Aug. 6, 2024
/PRNewswire/ -- NeuroBo Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq:
NRBO), a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on
transforming cardiometabolic diseases, today announced that it has
signed a joint research agreement, together with Dong-A ST Co. Ltd.
and ImmunoForge, to develop a long-acting, once-monthly,
formulation of DA-1726, a novel, dual oxyntomodulin (OXM) analog
agonist that functions as a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor
(GLP1R) and glucagon receptor (GCGR), utilizing ImmunoForge's
long-lasting half-life extension Elastin-Like Polypeptide (ELP)
platform technology. Financial terms of the agreement were not
disclosed.
"The signing of this research agreement, together with our
collaboration partners, Dong-A ST and ImmunoForge, is a step toward
potentially developing a long-acting formulation of DA-1726 which
would enhance patient compliance and ease of administration for the
treatment of obesity," stated Hyung Heon
Kim, President and Chief Executive Officer of NeuroBo. "We
are hopeful that ImmunoForge's ELP platform technology may enable
the formulation of DA-1726, currently in Phase 1 studies, into a
once-monthly injection, allowing us to overcome the current
limitations associated with changing peptides, such as DA-1726,
into longer-acting forms. We look forward to working closely with
both Dong-A ST and ImmunoForge to bring what could be a
first-in-class, once-monthly obesity treatment to market."
"This agreement with Dong-A ST, one of the top pharmaceutical
companies in Korea, and NeuroBo, reaffirms the potential of our ELP
platform technology," added Sung-Min
Ahn and Kiho Chang, Co-Chief
Executive Officers of ImmunoForge. "Our patented, once-monthly,
long-acting ELP platform technology has the capability to increase
the half-life of a drug by up to 200 times and we look forward to
exploring its application to NeuroBo's DA-1726, a highly promising
approach for the treatment of obesity."
About ImmunoForge
ImmunoForge specializes in novel
drug development with a broad pipeline, from pre-clinical through
Phase 2, based on its patented Elastin-Like Polypeptide (ELP)
platform technology, developed by chief technology officer, Dr.
Jim Ballance, which has the ability
to increase the half-life of a drug by up to 200 times. The company
is currently conducting phase 2 clinical trials for Froniglutide,
which has already proven to be stable and which is indicated for a
range of diseases including Dermatomyositis and Polymyositis,
Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) and others. Pemziviptadil, a
first-in class drug intended to treat cardiomyopathy associated
with DMD and cystic fibrosis, is in preparation for the submission
of a Phase 2 Investigational New Drug Application (IND) to the U.S.
Food and Drug Administration. A number of the company's pipeline
candidates have received FDA orphan drug designation.
For more information, please visit www.immunoforge.com.
About DA-1726
DA-1726 is a novel oxyntomodulin (OXM)
analogue functioning as a GLP1R/GCGR dual agonist for the treatment
of obesity and Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatohepatitis
(MASH) that is to be administered once weekly subcutaneously.
DA-1726 acts as a dual agonist of GLP-1 receptors (GLP1R) and
glucagon receptors (GCGR), leading to weight loss through reduced
appetite and increased energy expenditure. DA-1726 has a well
understood mechanism and, in pre-clinical mice models, resulted in
improved weight loss compared to semaglutide and cotadutide
(another OXM analogue). Additionally, in pre-clinical mouse models,
DA-1726 elicited similar weight reduction, while consuming more
food, compared tirzepatide and survodutide, while also preserving
lean body mass and demonstrating improved lipid-lowering effects
compared to survodutide.
About NeuroBo Pharmaceuticals
NeuroBo Pharmaceuticals,
Inc. is a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on
transforming cardiometabolic diseases. The company is currently
developing DA-1241 for the treatment of Metabolic
Dysfunction-Associated Steatohepatitis (MASH) and is developing
DA-1726 for the treatment of obesity. DA-1241 is a novel
G-protein-coupled receptor 119 (GPR119) agonist that promotes the
release of key gut peptides GLP-1, GIP, and PYY. In pre-clinical
studies, DA-1241 demonstrated a positive effect on liver
inflammation, lipid metabolism, weight loss, and glucose
metabolism, reducing hepatic steatosis, hepatic inflammation, and
liver fibrosis, while also improving glucose control. DA-1726 is a
novel oxyntomodulin (OXM) analogue that functions as a
glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor (GLP1R) and glucagon receptor
(GCGR) dual agonist. OXM is a naturally-occurring gut hormone that
activates GLP1R and GCGR, thereby decreasing food intake while
increasing energy expenditure, thus potentially resulting in
superior body weight loss compared to selective GLP1R agonists.
For more information, please visit www.neurobopharma.com.
Forward Looking Statements
Certain statements in this
press release may be considered forward-looking statements within
the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of
1995. Words such as "believes", "expects", "anticipates", "may",
"will", "should", "seeks", "approximately", "intends", "projects",
"plans", "estimates" or the negative of these words or other
comparable terminology (as well as other words or expressions
referencing future events, conditions or circumstances) are
intended to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking
statements are predictions, projections and other statements about
future events that are based on current expectations and
assumptions and, as a result, are subject to risks and
uncertainties. Many factors could cause actual future events to
differ materially from the forward-looking statements in this press
release, including, without limitation, those risks associated with
NeuroBo's ability to execute on its commercial strategy; the
timeline for regulatory submissions; the ability to obtain
regulatory approval through the development steps of NeuroBo's
current and future product candidates, the ability to realize the
benefits of the license agreement with Dong-A ST Co. Ltd.,
including the impact on future financial and operating results of
NeuroBo; the cooperation of NeuroBo's contract manufacturers,
clinical study partners and others involved in the development of
NeuroBo's current and future product candidates; potential negative
interactions between NeuroBo's product candidates and any other
products with which they are combined for treatment; NeuroBo's
ability to initiate and complete clinical trials on a timely basis;
NeuroBo's ability to recruit subjects for its clinical trials;
whether NeuroBo receives results from NeuroBo's clinical trials
that are consistent with the results of pre-clinical and previous
clinical trials; impact of costs related to the license agreement,
known and unknown, including costs of any litigation or regulatory
actions relating to the license agreement; the effects of changes
in applicable laws or regulations; the effects of changes to
NeuroBo's stock price on the terms of the license agreement and any
future fundraising; and other risks and uncertainties described in
NeuroBo's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission,
including NeuroBo's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date when made.
NeuroBo does not assume any obligation to publicly update or revise
any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new
information, future events or otherwise, except as required by
law.
Contacts:
NeuroBo Pharmaceuticals
Marshall H. Woodworth
Chief Financial Officer
+1-857-299-1033
marshall.woodworth@neurobopharma.com
Rx Communications Group
Michael Miller
+1-917-633-6086
mmiller@rxir.com
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SOURCE NeuroBo Pharmaceuticals, Inc.