Recent statistics reveal a growing interest in targeting GDF-15 for therapeutic interventions. Currently, there are several drugs targeting GDF-15, with some facing challenges or discontinuation. Of the remaining candidates, many are in early development stages, including preclinical and clinical trials. Specifically, a few drugs have advanced to Phase 1 and Phase 2 clinical trials. These […]
On July 16, 2024, Dr. Roger Cone, co-founder of the preclinical biotech company Courage, published a study in The Journal of Clinical Investigation titled “Subthreshold activation of the melanocortin system causes generalized sensitization to anorectic agents in mice.” The research demonstrated the synergistic effect between GLP-1 receptor agonists (GLP1RA) and MC4R agonists, revealing that low […]
On June 25, 2024, at the 2024 American Diabetes Association (ADA) Scientific Sessions, Suzhou Innovent Biologics and Eli Lilly announced the results of a Phase 3 clinical trialfor the GLP-1R x GCGR dual agonist, Mazdutide. This marks the first Phase 3 clinical trial (GLORY-1) in overweight or obese adults in China。The study’s primary results and exploratory endpoints of liver fat content were disclosed, showing that Mazdutide acts as a dual agonist for both GLP-1R and GCGR. It reduces body weight by suppressing appetite and delaying gastric emptying through GLP-1R activation, while enhancing weight loss efficacy by increasing energy expenditure via GCGR activation. Notably, Mazdutide uniquely promotes fatty acid oxidation and lipolysis in the liver through GCGR activation, thereby improving liver fat metabolism. As GCGR plays a crucial role in glucose metabolism, it has become a hot target in the development of diabetes and weight loss drugs.Let’s delve into the role of the Glucagon Receptor (GCGR).
Currently, the most popular GLP1-based monotherapy, Semaglutide, controls blood sugar by promoting insulin secretion and induces a lasting sense of fullness to reduce appetite. However, this drug can cause side effects such as nausea and vomiting, which can affect patient adherence to the treatment. On July 10, 2024, Kuei-Pin Huang and colleagues published a paper […]
On February 27, 2024, Viking Therapeutics announced the results of their Phase IIa clinical study for VK2735, a dual GLP-1R/GIPR agonist for obesity. The results showed a maximum weight loss of 13.1% after 13 weeks of treatment. Following this news, Viking’s stock surged by 121%. The company has received written feedback from the FDA and […]
In the previous article, we focused on the popular drug target for weight loss, G Protein-Coupled Receptor 75 (GPR75). This time, our topic is another emerging target for treating adult obesity, Activin A Receptor Type 2 (ActRII). Unlike currently approved weight loss drugs, which can reduce the weight of obese patients but often lead to […]
When it comes to weight loss medications, one cannot overlook the remarkable success of Semaglutide (GLP-1 weight loss drug), which has propelled the Danish biopharmaceutical company, Novo Nordisk, to new heights. According to Novo Nordisk’s financial report for 2023, Semaglutide sales reached $21.2 billion in 2023. On March 7th, Novo Nordisk’s stock price surged by […]