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AI muscle drug program shows Phase III gains at PMGC (NASDAQ: ELAB)

Filing Impact
(High)
Filing Sentiment
(Neutral)
Form Type
8-K

Rhea-AI Filing Summary

PMGC Holdings Inc., through subsidiary NorthStrive Biosciences, reported positive Phase III results from its AI-driven drug discovery program with Yuva Biosciences.

Four AI-selected small molecules (C1–C4) significantly increased ANT1 protein expression in primary human skeletal muscle cells, with dose-dependent gains up to 50%. The partners plan confirmatory testing in a more mature skeletal muscle model to validate ANT1 induction as part of PMGC’s broader muscle-preservation strategy, including potential use alongside GLP-1 weight-loss treatments. The company emphasizes these in vitro findings are preliminary and subject to substantial development, regulatory and commercial risks.

Positive

  • None.

Negative

  • None.

Insights

Early in vitro success validates AI-selected compounds but remains high risk.

The update shows NorthStrive and Yuva’s MitoNova™ AI platform can identify small molecules that boost ANT1 expression in human skeletal muscle cells. Four candidates (C1–C4) showed statistically significant activity, with several demonstrating clear dose-dependent effects up to about half again baseline levels.

These data support target engagement for ANT1 and fit PMGC’s focus on muscle preservation, including in GLP-1 weight-loss settings. However, the results are limited to in vitro assays. There is no evidence yet from more complex muscle models, animals or humans, and no regulatory path or timelines are detailed.

The proposed next step is confirmatory testing in a more mature skeletal muscle model to see if ANT1 induction persists under higher energy demand. Future disclosures may clarify whether any compound advances into formal preclinical and, later, clinical development, which will determine financial relevance.

Item 7.01 Regulation FD Disclosure Disclosure
Material non-public information disclosed under Regulation Fair Disclosure, often investor presentations or guidance.
Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits Exhibits
Financial statements, pro forma financial information, and exhibit attachments filed with this report.
C2 ANT1 increase +50% ANT1 expression Phase III in vitro human skeletal muscle cells
C4 ANT1 increase +48% ANT1 expression Phase III in vitro human skeletal muscle cells
C1 ANT1 increase +46% ANT1 expression Phase III in vitro human skeletal muscle cells
C3 ANT1 increase +29% ANT1 expression Phase III in vitro human skeletal muscle cells
Validated compounds 4 AI-selected small molecules C1, C2, C3, C4 advanced from Phase III
MitoNova™ AI platform technical
"selected by Yuva Biosciences' proprietary MitoNova™ AI platform"
ANT1 protein expression technical
"using an in vitro assay measuring ANT1 protein expression"
in vitro assay technical
"tested in primary human skeletal muscle cells using an in vitro assay"
GLP-1 receptor agonists medical
"preserving muscle while on weight loss treatments, including GLP-1 receptor agonists"
GLP-1 receptor agonists are medicines that mimic a natural gut hormone to lower blood sugar and reduce appetite, often used to treat diabetes and obesity. Investors care because these drugs can drive large prescription sales, face strict regulatory approval and patent timelines, and their safety, pricing, or label changes can meaningfully affect a drug maker’s revenue much like a bestselling product or a recalled item would impact any company’s financial outlook.
forward-looking statements regulatory
"Statements contained in this press release regarding matters that are not historical facts are "forward-looking statements""
Forward-looking statements are predictions or plans that companies share about what they expect to happen in the future, like estimating sales or profits. They matter because they help investors understand a company's outlook, but since they are based on guesses and assumptions, they can sometimes be wrong.
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false 0001840563 0001840563 2026-07-01 2026-07-01 iso4217:USD xbrli:shares iso4217:USD xbrli:shares

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 8-K

 

CURRENT REPORT

PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF

THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): July 1, 2026

 

PMGC Holdings Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Nevada   001-41875   33-2382547
(State or other jurisdiction
of incorporation)
  (Commission File Number)   (I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)

 

c/o 120 Newport Center Drive
Newport Beach, CA
  92660
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (888) 445-4886

 

N/A

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

 

Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 

Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 

Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 

Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

 

Title of each class   Trading Symbol(s)   Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Stock, $0.0001 par value   ELAB   The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

 

Emerging growth company

 

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Item 7.01 Regulation FD Disclosure. 

 

On July 1, 2026, NorthStrive Biosciences Inc., a Delaware corporation and wholly owned subsidiary of PMGC Holdings Inc. (the “Company”), issued a press release, a copy of which is furnished as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K (“Form 8-K”).

 

The information furnished pursuant to this Item 7.01, including Exhibit 99.1, shall not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section, and shall not be deemed to be incorporated by reference into any filing of the Company under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act, except as shall be expressly set forth by specific reference in such filing.

 

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

(d) Exhibits.

 

Exhibit No.   Description
99.1   Press Release dated July 1, 2026.
104   Cover Page Interactive Data File (formatted in Inline XBRL).

  

1

 

 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 

Date: July 1, 2026

 

PMGC Holdings, Inc.  
     
By:  /s/ Graydon Bensler  
Name:  Graydon Bensler  
Title: Chief Executive Officer  

 

2

 

 

Exhibit 99.1

 

NorthStrive Biosciences Announces Positive Results from Phase
III of AI-Driven Drug Discovery Program with Yuva Biosciences

 

Yuva Biosciences' proprietary MitoNova™ AI platform identified small-molecule candidates that were biologically validated in primary human skeletal muscle cells, with multiple candidates increasing ANT1, a mitochondrial protein central to skeletal muscle energy metabolism.

 

Four AI-selected compounds demonstrated ANT1 induction, supporting their further confirmatory testing and development.

 

NEWPORT BEACH, Calif., July 1, 2026 - NorthStrive Biosciences Inc. ("NorthStrive Biosciences"), a subsidiary of PMGC Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ: ELAB) ("PMGC" or the "Company"), today announced positive results from Phase III of its AI-driven drug discovery program with strategic partner Yuva Biosciences, Inc. ("Yuva Biosciences").

 

Phase III of the parties’ drug discovery program (“Phase III”) was designed to biologically validate a focused set of small-molecule candidates selected by Yuva Biosciences' proprietary MitoNova™ AI platform. These candidates were tested in primary human skeletal muscle cells using an in vitro assay measuring ANT1 protein expression.

 

ANT1 is a mitochondrial protein involved in cellular energy metabolism in skeletal muscle. The parties’ drug discovery program is focused on identifying candidates that may support the Company's broader development strategy around muscle preservation, including potential applications relevant to muscle health and metabolic stress.

 

The study in Phase III evaluated a focused set of AI-selected small-molecule candidates. According to the results package prepared by Yuva Biosciences, four compounds (C1, C2, C3, and C4) increased ANT1 expression, with the strongest candidates demonstrating dose-dependent induction. Yuva Biosciences’ results report identified C1, C2 and C4 as the strongest and most dose-consistent ANT1 inducers, while C3 also advanced as a candidate based on statistically significant activity at the highest tested dose.

 

Key Phase III Findings

 

Finding Significance
Four AI-selected compounds significantly increased ANT1 expression. C1, C2, C3 and C4 each demonstrated statistically significant increases in ANT1 expression, validating biological activity of multiple MitoNova™ AI-selected candidates in human skeletal muscle cells.
Multiple candidates demonstrated meaningful dose-dependent induction. The strongest observed increases included C2 at up to +50%, C4 at up to +48%, and C1 at up to +46%, with C3 demonstrating a +29% increase at the highest tested dose.
The results support confirmatory testing and further development. Yuva Biosciences recommended advancing the four validated candidates into a more mature and energy-demanding skeletal muscle model, to further confirm ANT1 induction and de-risk subsequent development.

 

 

 

 

Connection to Prior Program Update

 

The Company previously announced that Phase III was expected to use Yuva Biosciences' improved sixth-generation classifier models to support a more refined selection of candidate compounds and a more comprehensive in vitro validation stage. The prior update also stated that Phase III results were expected in Q2 2026. View the prior PMGC press release.

 

Next Steps

 

Based on the positive Phase III results, NorthStrive Biosciences and Yuva Biosciences are evaluating next steps, including confirmatory testing and further development of the four validated candidates. The proposed next stage is expected to evaluate whether the ANT1 induction observed in primary human skeletal muscle cells is maintained in a more mature muscle model that more closely reflects adult skeletal muscle biology.

 

About Yuva Biosciences, Inc.

 

Yuva Biosciences, Inc. is a mitochondrial sciences AI company that uses advanced artificial intelligence to identify and develop therapeutic and natural candidates targeting aging-related pathways. Its proprietary AI platform, MitoNova™, integrates proprietary biological, chemical, and mitochondrial-function datasets to accelerate the discovery of compounds with the potential to improve cellular processes and overall tissue health. Multiple products incorporating compounds discovered by Yuva Biosciences are already on the market, including Revive+ by BosleyMD. Yuva Biosciences is headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama. For more information, please visit www.yuvabio.com.

 

About NorthStrive Biosciences Inc.

 

NorthStrive Biosciences Inc., a PMGC Holdings Inc. company, is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and acquisition of cutting-edge aesthetic medicines. NorthStrive's lead asset, EL-22, leverages an engineered probiotic approach to address the 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. We are committed to exploring opportunities in multiple sectors to maximize growth and value. For more information, please visit 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, the ability to obtain, maintain and enforce patent protection, whether patent applications will issue or claims will be allowed, clinical and regulatory development timelines, potential indications, safety and efficacy, and market opportunity. 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.

 

Forward-looking statements in this press release include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the potential significance of the Phase III results, the potential advancement of candidate compounds, future confirmatory testing, further characterization and development, the potential relevance of ANT1 induction, the Company's muscle preservation strategy, and the potential applications or benefits of the AI-driven drug discovery program.

 

The results described in this press release are based on in vitro testing and are preliminary in nature. The Company cannot provide assurance that any candidate will demonstrate similar activity in future testing, differentiated models, animal studies, clinical studies, or any commercial application. There can be no assurance that the Company or Yuva Biosciences will successfully advance any candidate, complete additional studies, obtain regulatory approvals, develop a product candidate, or generate revenue from this program.

 

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 website 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 did PMGC Holdings Inc. (ELAB) announce in this 8-K filing?

PMGC reported that subsidiary NorthStrive Biosciences achieved positive Phase III results in an AI-driven drug discovery program with Yuva Biosciences. Four AI-selected small molecules significantly increased ANT1 protein expression in human skeletal muscle cells, supporting potential follow-on testing for muscle-preservation applications.

What were the key Phase III results reported by PMGC’s NorthStrive Biosciences?

Phase III testing showed four AI-selected compounds (C1–C4) significantly increased ANT1 expression in primary human skeletal muscle cells. The strongest effects were dose-dependent, with C2 up to +50%, C4 up to +48%, C1 up to +46%, and C3 showing a +29% increase at the highest dose.

How does the AI-driven program with Yuva Biosciences relate to PMGC’s muscle preservation strategy?

The program aims to find candidates that support PMGC’s broader muscle-preservation strategy, including during metabolic stress and weight-loss treatments. NorthStrive’s lead asset, EL-22, targets preserving muscle while on GLP-1 receptor agonists, so validated ANT1-inducing compounds could complement this aesthetic and metabolic health focus.

What are the next steps after these Phase III in vitro results for PMGC and Yuva?

NorthStrive and Yuva are considering confirmatory testing and further development of the four validated candidates. The proposed next stage would assess whether ANT1 induction persists in a more mature, energy-demanding skeletal muscle model that better reflects adult muscle biology before any animal or clinical work.

How preliminary are the NorthStrive Phase III results disclosed by PMGC Holdings?

The results are based solely on in vitro assays in primary human skeletal muscle cells and are described as preliminary. PMGC cautions there is no assurance these compounds will show similar activity in other models, animal studies, clinical trials, gain regulatory approval, or ever generate revenue.

What is ANT1, and why is it important in PMGC’s AI-driven drug discovery program?

ANT1 is a mitochondrial protein involved in cellular energy metabolism in skeletal muscle. PMGC and Yuva’s program focuses on compounds that increase ANT1 expression, as this may support muscle health under metabolic stress and align with the company’s strategy around muscle preservation during weight-loss treatments.

Filing Exhibits & Attachments

4 documents