Northstrive Biosciences Strengthens IP Portfolio with New US Patent Filings for EL-22 and EL-32 Programs Covering Obesity and Animal Health
Rhea-AI Summary
Northstrive Biosciences, a subsidiary of PMGC Holdings (NASDAQ: ELAB), has filed four new patent applications for its drug candidates EL-22 and EL-32. The patents cover two key areas: animal market applications and muscle loss treatment in obese patients, particularly in combination with GLP-1 receptor agonists.
The patent applications include:
- EL-22 for muscle growth in animals
- EL-32 as a standalone therapy for obesity-related muscle loss
- EL-32 in combination with GLP-1 drugs
- EL-32 as an animal feed additive
These additions bring Northstrive's intellectual property portfolio to 8 patent applications and 5 issued patents, with protection across major markets including the USA, Japan, China, and Korea. The company's engineered probiotic platform aims to preserve muscle mass while reducing fat mass in obesity treatment, with potential expansion into animal health markets.
Positive
- Filed 4 new patent applications strengthening IP portfolio in obesity and animal health markets
- Expanded patent protection to cover combination therapies with GLP-1 receptor agonists
- Total portfolio now includes 8 patent applications and 5 issued patents across major markets (USA, Japan, China, Korea)
- Diversified market potential through dual applications in human obesity and animal health sectors
Negative
- No clinical trial data or efficacy results provided for EL-22 or EL-32
- Patents are applications only, not granted - no guarantee of approval
- Heavy reliance on future GLP-1 combination therapy success without current validation
Insights
Northstrive strengthens competitive position with strategic patent filings protecting novel muscle-preserving technology for obesity treatment and animal health markets.
The filing of four new patent applications for Northstrive's EL-22 and EL-32 candidates represents a significant IP portfolio expansion in two valuable commercial areas. The most strategically important applications cover combination therapies with GLP-1 receptor agonists, positioning the company to potentially address the critical issue of muscle loss during weight reduction—a known limitation of current obesity treatments.
These filings complement Northstrive's existing IP assets, bringing their portfolio to 8 patent applications and 5 issued patents across major markets including the US, Japan, China, and Korea. This multi-jurisdictional protection strategy creates potential barriers to competition in key pharmaceutical territories.
The dual-track approach covering both human therapeutics and animal applications is particularly astute. The animal health patent applications could provide alternative commercialization pathways with potentially fewer regulatory hurdles and faster time-to-market compared to human applications.
The engineered probiotic platform technology appears versatile enough to target multiple applications from a common technological foundation. The specific targeting of muscle preservation while reducing fat mass addresses a genuine unmet need in the obesity market, where current treatments often result in both fat and muscle loss.
While these are applications rather than granted patents, building this IP foundation is essential for protecting Northstrive's innovations and creating potential licensing opportunities or partnership leverage as their candidates advance.
Northstrive's patent filings target high-value obesity market gap alongside animal health opportunities, creating multiple commercialization pathways.
Northstrive's patent strategy demonstrates market foresight by addressing a critical limitation in the booming obesity treatment landscape. By targeting muscle preservation during weight loss, particularly as a complementary therapy to GLP-1 receptor agonists, the company positions itself to potentially capture value in what has become one of healthcare's fastest-growing markets.
The combination therapy approach is particularly market-savvy, as it aligns with rather than competes against established treatments like Wegovy and Ozempic. This complementary positioning could facilitate adoption if the technology proves effective in clinical development.
The expansion into animal health markets with applications for muscle growth promotion represents a diversification strategy that hedges against the inherent risks and longer timelines of human therapeutics development. Animal health applications typically face less stringent regulatory requirements and could potentially generate revenue on shorter timelines.
The company's probiotic platform technology suggests a differentiated technological approach in addressing muscle metabolism, which could create competitive advantages if successfully developed. The ability to target both obesity and animal markets with related technology demonstrates platform versatility and potential for multiple revenue streams.
While these patent applications represent early-stage assets rather than market-ready products, they establish a foundation for Northstrive's commercial strategy across two distinct but potentially complementary markets.
NEWPORT BEACH, Calif., April 29, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Northstrive Biosciences Inc. (“Northstrive”), a subsidiary of PMGC Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ: ELAB) (the “Company,” “PMGC,” “we,” or “our”), today announced the filing of four novel patent applications for its two candidates EL-22 and EL-32. These patent applications cover the animal market, as well as treating muscle loss in obese patients, both as standalone and combination therapies alongside GLP-1 receptor agonists.
The Company filed the following four patents today:
- EL-22 in Animals: Fusion Protein of Myo-2 for Use in Encouraging Muscle Growth in Animals (Patent Application No. 19/191,246).
- EL-32 in Obesity as Monotherapy and Combination with GLP-1: Updated patent filings for Pharmaceutical Composition for Treatment of Muscle Loss Due to Obesity Treatments (Patent Application No. 19/191,209), and Combination Therapy for Treatment of Muscle Loss Due to Obesity Treatments utilizing GLP-1 receptor agonists (Patent Application No. 19/191,226).
- EL-32 in Animals: Animal Feed Additive to Encourage Muscle Growth (Patent Application No. 19/191,258).
The Company believes these newly filed patent applications support the development of Northstrive’s engineered probiotic platform, designed to advance human obesity care by preserving muscle mass while reducing fat mass, with additional potential applications in animal health.
“We believe that EL-22 and EL-32 have the potential to treat obesity in combination with GLP-1 receptor agonists, while also serving as the foundation to a potential range of animal health products”, said Deniel Mero, Co-Founder of Northstrive. “These patent applications strengthen our IP portfolio as we advance on our mission transform the standard of care for obesity and break into the animal health market.”
Northstrive’s patent portfolio now includes 8 patent applications and 5 issued patents that provide adequate protection in focus markets, including the USA, Japan, China and Korea.
| Licensed Product / Nation | Patent Application Serial No. | Title: |
| EL-32 USA | US 18/627,462 | Pharmaceutical composition for alleviation, treatment, and prevention of sarcopenia containing microorganism transformed with cell surface display vector operably linked with gene encoding myostatin and activin A proteins as active ingredient |
| EL-32 Korea | 10-2022-0136606 | A pharmaceutical composition for alleviation, treatment and prevention of sarcopenia containing a microorganism transformed with a vector expressing myostatin and activin A on the cell surface as an active ingredient |
| EL-22 USA | US 18/895,501 | Fusion Protein of Myo-2 for Use in Treating Muscle Loss in Obese Patients |
| EL-22 USA | US 18/895,519 | Combination Therapy of a Fusion Protein of Myo-2 with a GLP-1 Receptor Agonist for Use in Treating Muscle Loss in Obese Patients |
| EL-22 (Animals) USA | US 19/191,246 | Fusion Protein of Myo-2 for Use in Encouraging Muscle Growth in Animals |
| EL-32 USA | US 19/191,209 | Pharmaceutical Composition for Treatment of Muscle Loss Due to Obesity Treatments |
| EL-32 USA | US 19/191,226 | Combination Therapy for Treatment of Muscle Loss Due to Obesity Treatments utilizing GLP-1 receptor agonists |
| EL-32 (Animals) USA | 19/191,258 | Animal Feed Additive to Encourage Muscle Growth |
| Patent No. | Registration No. | Title: |
| EL-22 Korea | 10-0857861-0000 | Surface Expression Vector for Fusion Protein of Myo-2 Peptide Multimer and Myostatin, and Microorganism Transformed by Thereof |
| EL-22 Korea | 10-0872042-0000 | Cell Surface Expression Vector of Myostatin and Microorganisms Transformed Thereby |
| EL-22 USA | US 8470551 | Surface Expression Vector for Fusion Protein of Myo-2 Peptide Multimer and Myostatin, and Microorganism Transformed by Thereof |
| EL-22 Japan | US 5634867 | Surface Expression Vector for Fusion Protein of Myo-2 Peptide Multimer and Myostatin, and Microorganism Transformed by Thereof |
| EL-22 China | ZL200780101116.2 | Surface Expression Vector for Fusion Protein of Myo-2 Peptide Multimer and Myostatin, and Microorganism Transformed by Thereof |
About Northstrive Biosciences Inc.
Northstrive Biosciences Inc., a PMGC Holdings Inc. company, is a biopharmaceutical company focusing on the development and acquisition of cutting-edge aesthetic medicines. Northstrive’s lead asset, EL-22, leverages an engineered probiotic approach to address obesity’s pressing issue of preserving muscle while on weight loss treatments, including GLP-1 receptor agonists. 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. Currently, our portfolio consists of three wholly owned subsidiaries: Northstrive Biosciences Inc., PMGC Research Inc., and PMGC Capital LLC. 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, 2024, filed with the SEC on March 28, 2025, 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
FAQ
What new patents did ELAB's Northstrive file for EL-22 and EL-32 in April 2025?
How many total patents does ELAB's Northstrive now have for their obesity treatments?
What is the difference between ELAB's EL-22 and EL-32 obesity treatments?
How does ELAB's Northstrive plan to combine their treatments with GLP-1 drugs?
What markets will ELAB's new obesity treatment patents cover?
