Longevity biotech to grow to be sector’s subsequent public firm because it seeks to develop an all-oral mixture therapy for weight problems.
The world of publicly traded longevity firms is about get one other participant with the information that age-targeting biotech BioAge Labs has filed for an preliminary public providing in america. The corporate, which leverages getting old biology to develop new therapies for metabolic ailments, plans to be listed on the NASDAQ below the image BIOA.
Earlier this 12 months, BioAge raised a whopping $170 million Series D funding round earlier than commencing a Part 2 scientific trial of its lead candidate azelaprag together with Eli Lilly’s drug tirzepatide (Zepbound) for the therapy of weight problems in older adults. Then, two weeks in the past, the corporate’s appointment of former GSK CEO Jean-Pierre Garnier as Chair of its Board of Administrators, led to hypothesis that an IPO was imminent.
Assuming the IPO goes forward as deliberate, BioAge will be part of the likes of AgeX Therapeutics, Life Biosciences, Longeveron, and Unity Biotechnology as considered one of a handful of publicly traded firms targeted on concentrating on the biology of getting old.
“That is vastly thrilling information,” mentioned Longevity.Know-how Editor in Chief Phil Newman. “IPOs are coming again and I’m anticipating extra to come back from the longevity subject – we’re simply originally of the longevity biotech market.”
Monetary giants Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, Jefferies and Citigroup are the underwriters for BioAge’s providing, demonstrating buyers’ ongoing curiosity in obesity-targeting therapies following the success of GLP-1 inhibitors like Ozempic and Wegovy.
“The success of GLP-1s seems to be creating its personal secondary market, with many firms already exploring alternatives on this space,” added Newman. “It’ll be fascinating to see what number of different complementary therapies and approaches emerge within the coming months.”
One other high-profile longevity biotech, Fauna Bio, has additionally made latest strikes into weight problems, inking a $494 million collaboration with Lilly final 12 months.
“After BioAge, I anticipate that Fauna would be the subsequent longevity biotech IPO,” added Newman, noting among the firm’s recent activity on social media. “It’s fascinating that these firms are forming important partnerships with Huge Pharma, however aren’t being purchased by them – it appears pharma firms are nonetheless hedging their bets a bit of on the subject of longevity.”
“Let’s not neglect, BioAge and Fauna are simply two examples. A number of longevity biotechs are coming into the clinic, they usually’ll all want funding firepower for Part 3 trials, whether or not by means of an IPO or pharma acquisition. BioAge is the beginning of the expansion pattern we’ve been ready for. It’s occurring.”
BioAge drug boosts GLP-1 results
BioAge’s azelaprag is an oral small molecule that acts as an apelin receptor agonist, designed to copy the metabolic advantages of train. The drug works through a brand new mechanism that enhances GLP-1 inhibitors like tirzepatide and semaglutide (Ozepmic/Wegovy), mimicking the results of a pure hormone launched throughout train and concentrating on processes that assist burn fats whereas preserving muscle operate.
Earlier trials confirmed its potential in bettering muscle metabolism and preserving vitality expenditure in older volunteers. In preclinical research, azelaprag considerably enhanced the burden loss results of incretin medicine.
The continued Phase 2 trial, which dosed its first affected person in July, is carried out in collaboration with Lilly’s Refrain scientific improvement group and can contain round 220 members. The first objective is to measure weight reduction over 24 weeks, with extra exploratory measures resembling physique composition and glycemic management. The trial will check two oral doses of azelaprag together with weekly tirzepatide injections, with top-line outcomes anticipated in late 2025.
“We consider combining azelaprag, an train mimetic, with tirzepatide, a GLP-1/GIP receptor agonist that decreases meals consumption, may present a robust pharmacological parallel to the train and food plan interventions that type the inspiration of weight problems administration,” mentioned BioAge CEO Dr Kristen Fortney.
BioAge plans to launch a second Part 2 trial in 2025, investigating a mix of azelaprag with semaglutide (Wegovy), as the corporate seeks to realize its objective of growing an all-oral mixture therapy for weight problems. The corporate’s analysis pipeline additionally consists of drug candidates concentrating on neuroinflammation driver NLRP3.
