Atrogi Announces Publication on Advancements in Combatting Obesity and Metabolic Complications
24 Mayo 2024 - 2:00AM
Atrogi, a pioneering clinical-stage biotech company advancing
treatments for metabolic disorders, announces a publication in the
Journal of Molecular Metabolism (1). The research paper validates
the mechanism of action of the company’s first-in-class, small
molecule, ATR-127, in combating obesity and metabolic
complications.
Unlike existing anti-obesity therapies that compromise lean
muscle mass, ATR-127 induces significant weight loss while
preserving crucial lean body mass. ATR-127 binds to both the beta-2
and beta-3 adrenergic receptors in a unique manner, allowing for
precise modulation of downstream signaling cascades. Unlike
conventional approaches, ATR-127's innovative binding mechanism
enables selective activation of specific signaling pathways. This
unlocks the full therapeutic potential of beta-2 and beta-3
receptor agonism, maximizing beneficial effects on metabolism and
body composition while mitigating the cardiovascular side effects
commonly associated with indiscriminate receptor activation.
Atrogi’s CEO, Alexandra Ekman Ryding, said, “This publication
highlights strong pre-clinical data relating to ATR-127 and
validates our approach for the development of a novel modality for
the treatment of obesity. We are now advancing our next generation
small molecules for the treatment of obesity to IND preparatory
studies in H1 next year and expect to enter the clinic in
2026.”
Atrogi´s founder and CSO, Tore Bengtsson, a Professor of
Physiology at Stockholm University, said, “There is a high demand
for novel treatments of obesity without the current debilitating
side effects and muscle loss. We believe our pioneering dual
receptor beta-agonist approach has the potential to transform the
obesity treatment landscape. Our vision is for a more holistic
treatment for diabesity and steatohepatitis that not only treats
the underlying cause of disease but also supports overall health
and quality of life.”
The study found that ATR-127 enhances energy expenditure and
promotes beneficial metabolic changes by inducing skeletal muscle
glucose uptake and the concomitant activation of brown and beige
adipose tissue. This results in healthy weight loss - decreasing
fat mass but preserving muscle, whilst reducing hepatic
inflammation and lipid content. ATR-127’s ability to deliver
precise signaling modulation prevents excessive cAMP production
thereby lowering cardiac force production and mitigating risks of
cardiovascular side effects.
This study was a collaborative international effort involving
Atrogi AB, and institutions in Europe and Australia, including
Stockholm University, Monash University, University of Nottingham,
Karolinska Institute, Maastricht University Medical Center, Latvian
Institute of Organic Synthesis, Excellerate Bioscience, Dr.
Margarete Fischer-Bosch Institute of Clinical Pharmacology,
Tübingen University, University of Copenhagen, University of
Queensland, and Queensland University of Technology.
Atrogi’s unique platform enables the synthesis of compounds
capable of modulating signaling downstream of adrenergic receptors
in novel ways. By measuring the specific activation of numerous
downstream signaling events, Atrogi has created a proprietary
library of compounds that engage discrete signaling pathways, each
tailored to enhance beneficial effects while mitigating potential
side effects in different therapeutic areas. Atrogi's iterative
approach to drug development allows for the generation of compounds
with optimized signaling profiles and improved efficacy.
References
(1) Paper: “The novel adrenergic agonist ATR-127 targets
skeletal muscle and brown adipose tissue to tackle diabesity and
steatohepatitis”
Notes to Editors
About Atrogi AB
Atrogi is a clinical-stage biotech company developing
first-in-class, insulin-independent treatments for type 2 diabetes
(T2D) and related metabolic disorders, including obesity and
muscle-wasting disorders. Atrogi’s lead compound, ATR-258 for T2D,
completed a Phase 1a/b clinical trial in March 2024, with Phase II
trials planned by the end of 2024. Atrogi also has compounds in
pre-clinical development for the treatment of obesity and muscle
wasting disorders.
ATR-258 binds to the beta-2 adrenoreceptor, initiating a process
that mediates the transportation of glucose into skeletal muscle,
lowering blood glucose levels and positively affecting several
organs affected by T2D. The proprietary small-molecule compound
activates the receptor in a novel manner, causing selective
modulation and a distinct signaling profile.
Atrogi’s platform extends beyond the adrenergic receptor system,
offering the potential for application to other GPCRs. By
leveraging the signaling complexity of GPCRs, Atrogi aims to
develop tailored compounds that engage specific pathways relevant
to different clinical conditions, paving the way for safer, more
effective therapies.
The company has raised over EUR 24 m in total since inception
from investors, including Flerie Invest, Korea Investment Partners
(KIP) and private investors. This includes a SEK 90 million
(approx. EUR 7.6 m) rights issue. The company has also been awarded
non-dilutive grants of over EUR 1.5 million from international
organizations such as Eurostars, as well as grants from SweLife in
recognition of the company’s unique discovery of receptor
signaling.
The company is based in Solna, near Stockholm, Sweden. Follow
the company on LinkedIn and visit its website.
Media Contacts
Atrogi
Alexandra Ekman Ryding, CEO
alexandra@atrogi.com
Scius Communications (for Atrogi)
Katja Stout
katja@sciuscommunications.com
Tel: +44 7789 435990
Daniel Gooch
Tel: +44 7747 875479
daniel@sciuscommunications.com