BioAge Labs Presents Preclinical Data for Apelin Receptor Agonist Azelaprag for Obesity Demonstrating Significant Improvements in Weight Loss and Body Composition When Combined with Incretin Drugs
21 Junio 2024 - 3:15PM
Business Wire
Oral presentation delivered by Chief Medical Officer Paul Rubin,
MD, at the American Diabetes Association's 84th Scientific
Sessions, the world’s largest diabetes conference
BioAge Labs, Inc. ("BioAge"), a clinical-stage biotechnology
company developing therapeutic candidates for metabolic diseases,
such as obesity, by targeting the biology of aging, today announced
preclinical data for its lead product candidate azelaprag, an
orally available small molecule agonist of the apelin receptor APJ,
in combination with incretin agonists for the treatment of obesity.
The data were presented in a talk by BioAge’s Chief Medical Officer
and EVP-Research Paul Rubin, MD, at the American Diabetes
Association's 84th Scientific Sessions. The conference, being held
June 21–24 in Orlando, convenes more than 12,000 leading
physicians, scientists, and health care professionals and features
the latest scientific and therapeutic findings in diabetes.
In a mouse model of obesity, the addition of azelaprag to the
GLP-1/GIP receptor agonist tirzepatide increased total weight loss
to 39%, approximately double that of tirzepatide monotherapy,
restoring body weight to the range observed in lean control mice.
Furthermore, the combination restored body composition and muscle
function to that of lean controls. Similar results were observed
when azelaprag was combined with semaglutide, a GLP-1 receptor
agonist. Importantly, the synergistic weight loss observed in
animals on combination therapy was not due to a further decrease in
food intake.
"We are highly encouraged by these preclinical data, which
highlight the potential of azelaprag to significantly improve the
weight loss and metabolic benefits of incretin therapy, the current
standard of care for obesity," said Kristen Fortney, Ph.D., CEO of
BioAge. "Given its oral availability and favorable tolerability
profile, we believe azelaprag is ideally suited for combination use
with incretin drugs and could enable a new generation of
patient-friendly, all-oral obesity regimens that could rival or
even surpass the efficacy of injectables while also promoting
healthy body composition."
Azelaprag is a potential first-in-class oral agonist of the
apelin receptor APJ. Apelin is an exercise-induced signaling
molecule (exerkine) that acts on APJ to mediate many of the
metabolic benefits of physical activity. In a Phase 1b trial,
azelaprag promoted muscle metabolism and prevented muscle atrophy
in healthy older volunteers on bed rest (link). The study also
showed that azelaprag shifted circulating protein biomarkers in a
manner consistent with its function as an exercise mimetic,
increasing predicted resting energy expenditure and
cardiorespiratory fitness.
BioAge plans to initiate a Phase 2 trial in mid-2024 evaluating
azelaprag in combination with tirzepatide (Zepbound®) in older
adults with obesity (link). The study is being conducted in
collaboration with Eli Lilly and Company, which is providing
tirzepatide, and Lilly's Chorus clinical development organization,
which is advising on trial design and execution.
Presentation Details:
Title: Apelin Receptor Agonist Azelaprag Increases Weight Loss
in Diet-Induced Obese Mice on Incretin Agonists and Restores Body
Composition and Muscle Function to that of Lean Controls Abstract
number: 118-OR Session: Beyond Glucose and Weight
Reduction—Additional Effects of Incretin-Based Therapies Date/time:
Friday, June 21, 2024, 4:15 – 4:30 PM Presenter: Paul Rubin, MD,
Chief Medical Officer and EVP-Research, BioAge Labs
About BioAge Labs, Inc.
BioAge is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing
therapeutic product candidates for metabolic diseases, such as
obesity, by targeting the biology of human aging. The company’s
lead product candidate, azelaprag, is an orally available small
molecule agonist of APJ that promoted metabolism and prevented
muscle atrophy on bed rest in a Phase 1b trial. In mid-2024, BioAge
plans to initiate a Phase 2 trial of azelaprag in combination with
tirzepatide for the treatment of obesity in older adults. Azelaprag
has potential as an oral regimen to amplify weight loss and improve
body composition in patients on obesity therapy with incretin
drugs. BioAge is also developing BGE-100, a structurally novel
NLRP3 inhibitor. BioAge’s preclinical programs, based on novel
insights from the company’s discovery platform built on human
longevity data, also address key pathways in metabolic aging.
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version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240621663769/en/
Media: Chris Patil, media@bioagelabs.com IR: Elena Liapounova,
ir@bioagelabs.com Partnering: Peng Leong, partnering@bioagelabs.com
Web: https://bioagelabs.com