BioAge Labs to Present Preclinical Data for APJ Agonist Azelaprag at ObesityWeek 2024
Rhea-AI Summary
BioAge Labs announced new preclinical data presentations for azelaprag, their oral APJ agonist, at ObesityWeek 2024. The studies demonstrated that azelaprag enhanced weight loss when combined with various appetite suppressants in obese mice on high-fat diets. As a monotherapy, azelaprag showed protection against excess weight gain, improved body composition, and increased physical activity and energy expenditure. The data supports azelaprag's potential as a novel obesity treatment, both as a standalone therapy and in combination with other medications like semaglutide, tirzepatide, danuglipron, and rimonabant.
Positive
- Preclinical data showed enhanced weight loss when azelaprag was combined with multiple appetite suppressants
- Azelaprag demonstrated effectiveness as monotherapy in preventing weight gain
- The drug showed improved body composition and increased physical activity in test subjects
- Results support potential versatility as both standalone and combination therapy
Negative
- Results are only from preclinical mouse studies, with no human trial data presented
- Efficacy in humans remains unproven at this stage
Insights
The preclinical data for azelaprag shows promising potential in obesity treatment through two key mechanisms:
- Enhanced weight loss when combined with established treatments like semaglutide and tirzepatide
- Protection against weight gain and improved metabolism as a standalone therapy
While these mouse studies demonstrate positive outcomes, investors should note that preclinical success doesn't guarantee human trial results. The dual-approach strategy - both as a combination therapy and monotherapy - could expand market opportunities if successful. The company's focus on oral administration gives it a potential competitive advantage in the rapidly growing obesity market, where most current treatments require injection.
Two presentations to highlight increased weight loss in obese mice treated with azelaprag in combination with multiple oral appetite suppressants, and significant protection against weight gain with azelaprag monotherapy
RICHMOND, Calif., Nov. 04, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- BioAge Labs, Inc. ("BioAge"), a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing therapeutic product candidates for metabolic diseases, such as obesity, by targeting the biology of human aging, today announced that it will present new preclinical data for its lead product candidate azelaprag, an orally available small molecule agonist of the apelin receptor APJ. The data will be presented at ObesityWeek 2024, held in San Antonio from November 2–6, 2024.
"Our preclinical data highlight the potential of azelaprag as a novel oral therapy for obesity," said Kristen Fortney, Ph.D., CEO and co-founder of BioAge. “Our two presentations provide evidence supporting the ability of BioAge’s azelaprag to enhance weight loss when combined with oral appetite suppression mechanisms, and to protect against excess weight gain and provide metabolic benefits as a monotherapy. These findings support our ongoing clinical development of azelaprag, and our broader mission to develop innovative treatments for metabolic diseases by leveraging insights from human aging biology."
In their two presentations, BioAge CMO and EVP Research Paul Rubin, MD, and VP Translational Aging Biology Yan Wang, PhD, will present data demonstrating that in mice on a high-fat diet, azelaprag increased weight loss and improved body composition in combination with semaglutide, tirzepatide, the oral GLP-1 receptor agonist danuglipron, or the oral CB1 inverse agonist rimonabant. These studies demonstrate the potential of azelaprag to be complementary to a range of oral appetite suppression mechanisms for the treatment of obesity.
Dr. Rubin’s talk will also show that in mice on a high-fat diet, azelaprag monotherapy protected against excess weight gain, improved body composition, and increased physical activity and energy expenditure, reinforcing the metabolic and exercise mimetic benefits of apelin signaling.
Oral presentation: Wednesday, November 6, 2024, 8:45–9:00 am CST
Title: The Apelin Receptor Agonist Azelaprag Reduces Weight Gain & Improves Body Composition in Diet-Induced Obese Mice
Session: Corporate Orals Session 3, room 006
Presenter: Paul Rubin, MD, Chief Medical Officer and EVP Research, BioAge Labs
Poster presentation: Tuesday, November 5, 2024, 2:30 PM CST
Title: The APJ Agonist Azelaprag Improves Weight Loss and Body Composition in DIO Mice on a CB1 Antagonist
Poster number: 628
Presenter: Yan Wang, PhD, VP Translational Aging Biology, BioAge Labs
The visual materials for the presentations will be made available on the BioAge investor website https://ir.bioagelabs.com concurrent with the beginning of their respective sessions.
About BioAge Labs, Inc.
BioAge is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing therapeutic product candidates for metabolic diseases, such as obesity, by targeting the biology of human aging. BioAge’s lead product candidate, azelaprag, is an orally available small molecule agonist of APJ that was observed to promote metabolism and prevent muscle atrophy on bed rest in a Phase 1b clinical trial. In mid-2024, BioAge initiated 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 orally available small molecule brain penetrant NLRP3 inhibitors for the treatment of diseases driven by neuroinflammation. BioAge’s preclinical programs, based on novel insights from the company’s discovery platform built on human longevity data, address key pathways in metabolic aging.
Contacts
PR: Chris Patil, media@bioagelabs.com
IR: Elena Liapounova, ir@bioagelabs.com
Partnering: partnering@bioagelabs.com
Web: https://bioagelabs.com
FAQ
What are the key findings of BioAge Labs' azelaprag preclinical studies presented at ObesityWeek 2024?
How does BioAge's azelaprag (BIOA) work for weight loss?
Which medications was azelaprag combined with in BioAge's preclinical studies?
