Friday, 06 December 2024


China-based biotech startup Laekna teams up with Eli Lilly to develop obesity treatment

21 November 2024 | News

To accelerate the global development of LAE102, for muscle-preserving weight loss in obesity

Laekna, Inc., a China-based biotech company focused on novel drug development for metabolic and cancer diseases, has announced a clinical collaboration with Eli Lilly and Company, a global leader in cardiometabolic health, including diabetes and obesity, to accelerate the development of LAE102, a novel ActRIIA monoclonal antibody (mAb) as a novel treatment for obesity.  Accelerating innovative treatments like this hopefully can make a meaningful impact on the obesity epidemic and the lives of millions of people affected by obesity.

Key highlights of the collaboration include:

  • Clinical development of LAE102 through phase 1 study including obese patients
  • Lilly will fund, share resources and expertise to accelerate research and development timelines
  • Laekna retains global rights for LAE102

The collaboration will focus on the development and clinical evaluation of LAE102, an innovative ActRIIA antagonistic mAb that may have potential as a first-in-class therapy in this disease area. ActRIIA is a receptor that has been shown to play a critical role in muscle regeneration and lipid metabolism. LAE102 has been shown to both increase lean mass and decrease fat mass in pre-clinical models. If successful, LAE102 could, in combination with a GLP1R agonist, further reduce fat mass and significantly regain the lean mass loss induced by GLP1R agonist. This positions LAE102 as a promising complementary drug candidate for achieving quality weight control.

By combining Laekna's novel approach with Lilly's decades-long experience in metabolic diseases, the partnership aims to significantly advance the standard of care in obesity management.

Sign up for the editor pick and get articles like this delivered right to your inbox.

Editors Pick
+Country Code-Phone Number(xxx-xxxxxxx)


Comments

× Your session has been expired. Please click here to Sign-in or Sign-up
   New User? Create Account