NorthStrive Biosciences Announces The Filing of Two U.S. Patent Applications Targeting Microgravity-Induced Muscle Loss During Long-Duration Spaceflight
Rhea-AI Summary
NorthStrive Biosciences (Nasdaq: ELAB), a subsidiary of PMGC Holdings, filed two U.S. patent applications (Nos. 19/774,556 for EL-22 and 19/774,575 for EL-32) covering use of its myostatin- and activin A–targeting candidates to preserve lean muscle mass in humans exposed to microgravity.
The EL-22 application claims Myo-2 peptide–based compositions and multiple delivery forms, while the EL-32 application covers bispecific myostatin/activin A antigens expressed via transformed microorganisms. According to NorthStrive, these filings extend its IP strategy from GLP-1/obesity-related muscle loss and animal health into spaceflight-associated muscle atrophy, though both assets remain preclinical and unapproved.
Positive
- Two new U.S. patent applications for EL-22 and EL-32 targeting microgravity muscle loss
- Broader IP coverage across GLP-1 weight-loss, space health and animal health applications
- EL-22 application includes multiple delivery routes, including oral, nasal, injection and topical
- Exclusive license already in place for EL-22 and EL-32 in animal health
- Management highlights modest incremental patent cost relative to potential commercial optionality
Negative
- EL-22 and EL-32 are preclinical and have not been evaluated in humans for microgravity-induced muscle loss
- No existing agreements with NASA, other space agencies or commercial space operators
- No assurance that the new patent applications will issue or yield commercially meaningful protection
- NorthStrive has not started clinical trials in the microgravity muscle-loss population and future development is uncertain
News Explained
The filing broadens potential protection, but discloses no spaceflight agreement, human evaluation, or commenced trial.
NorthStrive has filed the two applications, but the release says neither patent issuance nor a spaceflight agreement is assured, so the disclosure changes potential IP coverage rather than adding a disclosed commercial arrangement.
The release states that filing either application does not assure that a patent will issue or that its claims will be allowed in their filed form.
Both candidates remain preclinical, neither has been evaluated in humans for microgravity-related muscle loss, and no clinical trial has commenced in this patient population.
The open milestones are the outcomes of applications 19/774,556 and 19/774,575 and any commencement of a clinical trial for the named microgravity population.
Key Figures
Historical Context
| Date | Event | Sentiment | 24h Move | Catalyst |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 19 | Reverse split | Negative | -32.5% | Announced a 1-for-10 reverse stock split effective August 21, 2026 |
| Aug 14 | Earnings report | Positive | +1.5% | Reported higher quarterly revenue and expanded assets, equity, and cash balances |
| Jul 29 | Listing compliance | Positive | -7.0% | Confirmed compliance with Nasdaq’s $5 million MVLS requirement |
| Jul 28 | Manufacturing agreement | Positive | +2.8% | Entered a two-year aerospace manufacturing agreement with PAD Group |
| Jul 27 | Technology validation | Positive | +2.2% | Engaged Deploy360 to validate patented GPS-denied drone navigation technology |
24h Move is the share-price change in the day after each event; other market factors may also have contributed.
Recent constructive announcements mostly coincided with gains, while the reverse-split announcement coincided with a sharp decline.
Key Terms
myostatin medical
activin a medical
microgravity technical
glp-1 receptor agonist medical
AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.
New Filings Extend EL-22 and EL-32 into Spaceflight-Associated Muscle Atrophy, Broadening NorthStrive’s Myostatin and Activin A Intellectual Property Portfolio Across Human Weight-Loss, Space Health and Animal Health Applications
The filings are intended to position EL-22 and EL-32 as potential muscle-preservation platforms not only for large terrestrial markets, but also for the emerging medical requirements associated with sustained human presence in space
NEWPORT BEACH, Calif., Aug. 21, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- NorthStrive Biosciences Inc. (“NorthStrive”), a wholly owned subsidiary of PMGC Holdings Inc. (Nasdaq: ELAB) (the “Company,” “PMGC,” “we,” or “our”), today announced the filing of two new U.S. patent applications directed to the use of its lead assets, EL-22 and EL-32, to preserve lean muscle mass in humans experiencing muscle loss caused by exposure to a microgravity environment. The applications have been assigned U.S. Patent Application Nos. 19/774,556 (EL-22) and 19/774,575 (EL-32).
EL-22 is designed to target myostatin, and EL-32 to target both myostatin and activin A, proteins that negatively regulate skeletal muscle growth. The new filings apply that same biology, which NorthStrive is advancing for muscle preservation during glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist and other obesity-related weight loss treatment, to a separate and clinically distinct patient population: humans whose skeletal muscle atrophies during spaceflight.
Muscle Loss in Microgravity
In a microgravity environment, skeletal muscle atrophies as a result of mechanical unloading. Microgravity exposure also increases the risk of skeletal muscle damage and weakness, and therefore the risk of injury when muscle is reloaded on return to a gravitational environment. Care of crew musculature is accordingly regarded as essential both to astronaut health and performance in flight and to recovery after return to Earth.
Countermeasures in use today rely principally on in-flight resistance and aerobic exercise protocols, nutritional support and rehabilitation after landing. To NorthStrive's knowledge, no pharmacologic therapy has been approved by any regulatory authority specifically for the prevention or treatment of muscle loss caused by microgravity exposure. NorthStrive believes an orally deliverable approach would be well suited to the operational constraints of crewed spaceflight, where mass, volume, cold-chain capacity and crew time are all limited.
What the New Applications Cover
Together, the two applications are directed to the following, in each case for use in preserving lean muscle mass in human patients:
- Compositions. The EL-22 application claims pharmaceutical products comprising an isolated myostatin-derived Myo-2 peptide, a multimer of between two and eight such peptides, and fusion proteins pairing a mature myostatin protein with either the peptide or the multimer. The EL-32 application claims pharmaceutical products comprising a microorganism transformed with a cell surface display vector that expresses myostatin and activin A as a bispecific antigen, including embodiments using a pgsA display vector and a lactic acid bacterium such as Lactobacillus paracasei.
- Microgravity-exposed patient population. Claims in both applications directed to patients experiencing lean muscle mass loss from exposure to a microgravity environment.
- Formulation, delivery and dosing. Claims covering pharmaceutically acceptable excipients, specified daily dosage ranges, and a range of delivery forms, including oral dosage forms and, in the EL-22 application, additional forms such as nasal spray, injection and topical preparations.
- Combination and co-administration approaches. Claims covering administration together with apelin or with ursolic acid, each of which has been studied in connection with muscle metabolism.
Expanding the EL-22 and EL-32 Patent Estate
These two patentfilings continue NorthStrive’s deliberate strategy of broadening the EL-22 and EL-32 patent estate across patient populations and end markets rather than concentrating the patent estates in a single indication. NorthStrive has previously filed applications directed to human muscle preservation during GLP-1 receptor agonist and other obesity-related weight loss treatment, has filed applications covering animal health applications, and has entered into an exclusive license agreement for the commercialization of EL-22 and EL-32 in animal health. Each additional filing is intended to extend protection around the same underlying myostatin and activin A biology, and NorthStrive believes the incremental cost of doing so is modest relative to the potential commercial optionality created.
Human spaceflight activity continues to expand, with sustained crewed operations in low Earth orbit, commercial space station programs in development, a growing private astronaut market, and publicly stated agency objectives for long-duration lunar and Mars exploration. Longer missions mean greater cumulative microgravity exposure, which NorthStrive believes will increase the operational and medical importance of preserving crew muscle mass and strength. NorthStrive views this as a specialized but strategically valuable potential application that sits alongside, rather than in place of, the substantially larger terrestrial opportunities it is pursuing in muscle loss associated with GLP-1 and obesity treatment, sarcopenia and disuse atrophy.
NorthStrive is not currently a party to any agreement, contract or program with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, any other government space agency, or any commercial space operator, and no such arrangement should be assumed or is assured.
Development and Patent Status
EL-22 and EL-32 are preclinical product candidates. Neither has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration or any other regulatory authority for any indication, and neither has been evaluated in humans for muscle loss caused by exposure to a microgravity environment. The filing of a patent application does not assure that a patent will issue, that any particular claim will be allowed in its filed form, or that any issued claim would provide commercially meaningful protection. NorthStrive has not commenced a clinical trial in this patient population, and there is no assurance that it will do so or that any product candidate will be successfully developed, approved or commercialized.
About NorthStrive Biosciences Inc.
NorthStrive Biosciences Inc., a PMGC Holdings Inc. (Nasdaq: ELAB) company, is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and acquisition of therapeutics for the preservation of lean muscle mass. Its lead product candidates are EL-22, an engineered probiotic targeting myostatin, and EL-32, an engineered probiotic targeting both myostatin and activin A, proteins that negatively regulate skeletal muscle growth. Both are being developed to help patients preserve lean muscle mass during GLP-1 receptor agonist and other obesity-related weight loss treatment. For more information, please visit www.northstrivebio.com.
About PMGC Holdings Inc.
PMGC Holdings Inc. is a diversified holding company that manages and grows its portfolio through strategic acquisitions, investments, and development across various industries. We are committed to exploring opportunities in multiple sectors to maximize growth and value. For more information, please visit https://www.pmgcholdings.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
Statements contained in this press release regarding matters that are not historical facts are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended. Words such as “believes,” “expects,” “plans,” “potential,” “would” and “future” or similar expressions such as “look forward” are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this press release and are neither historical facts nor assurances of future performance. Instead, they are based only on our current beliefs, expectations and assumptions regarding the future of our business, future plans and strategies, projections, anticipated events and trends, the economy, activities of regulators and future regulations and other future conditions. Because forward-looking statements relate to the future, they are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict and many of which are outside of our control. Although the Company believes that the expectations expressed in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, it cannot assure you that such expectations will turn out to be correct, and the Company cautions investors that actual results may differ materially from the anticipated results. Therefore, you should not rely on any of these forward-looking statements. These and other risks are described more fully in PMGC’s filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), including the “Risk Factors” section of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025, filed with the SEC on March 30, 2026, and its other documents subsequently filed with or furnished to the SEC. Investors and security holders are urged to read these documents free of charge on the SEC’s web site at www.sec.gov. All forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of the date on which they were made. Except to the extent required by law, the Company undertakes no obligation to update such statements to reflect events that occur or circumstances that exist after the date on which they were made.
IR Contact: IR@pmgcholdings.com
