GLP-1 medication presently obtainable for weight reduction are administered as once-weekly injections. Verdiva Bio additionally goals to convey to sufferers once-a-week dosing, however in a extra handy capsule. That will additionally give the startup’s drug a dosing edge over lots of the potential next-generation metabolic medicines in growth as once-daily drugs. On Thursday, the startup revealed $411 million to assist its plans.
The Verdiva drug, VRB-101, is a part of a portfolio of experimental medicines acquired from China-based Sciwind Biosciences final 12 months. Verdiva, which is predicated in London and has extra operations in San Francisco, holds international rights to those medication outdoors of larger China and South Korea. In line with Verdiva, these medication are made with a proprietary oral supply expertise designed to allow oral dosing.
Verdiva mentioned a Section 1 examine performed in Australia confirmed the viability of once-weekly dosing of VRB-101. No weight-loss figures have been disclosed for this scientific trial. The corporate mentioned this program is now able to enter Section 2 testing.
“Our most mature program has the potential to be a first-in-class, once-weekly oral remedy for weight problems and weight reduction upkeep that would dramatically enhance affected person entry and affordability,” Verdiva co-founder and CEO Khurem Farooq mentioned in a ready assertion.
The Verdiva pipeline additionally features a once-weekly oral drug designed to focus on and activate amylin. The corporate mentioned this drug could possibly be used as a monotherapy or together with an oral GLP-1 agonist. The third program is a subcutaneously injected amylin agonist designed to be long-acting. Verdiva mentioned this drug could possibly be even be used as a monotherapy or together with a proprietary GLP-1 peptide drug.
Different corporations are additionally creating amylin-targeting medication. Novo Nordisk’s amycretin targets each amylin and GLP-1. Viking Therapeutics, whose pipeline contains each injectable and oral agonists of GLP-1, has one other program that targets the amylin and calcitonin receptors.
Verdiva’s Sequence A spherical was co-led by Forbion and Common Atlantic. Different contributors within the financing embrace RA Capital Administration, OrbiMed, Logos Capital, Lilly Asia Ventures, and LYFE Capital.
Photograph: Peter Dazeley, Getty Pictures