Recently, in Richmond, California, BioAge Labs, a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing new therapies for obesity and metabolic diseases by leveraging the biology of aging, announced the completion of a $170 million oversubscribed Series D financing round. ByLed by Sofinova Investments,New investors, including Longitude Capital, RA Capital, Cormorant Asset Management, RTW Investments, SV Health Investors, OrbiMed Advisors, Sands Capital, Pivotal bioVenture Partners, Osage University Partners, Lilly Ventures, and Amgen Ventures, joined existing investors, including Andreessen Horowitz (a16z) Bio+Health, in this round of funding. BioAge, an AI-driven anti-aging drug company founded in 2015,BioAge LabsHas completed over $300 million in financing, including a $90 million Series C round in September 2020, a $23 million Series B round in 2019, and a $10.9 million Series A round in 2017.
This funding will be used to support BioAge's Phase 2 clinical development of its lead compound Azelaprag, an oral apelin receptor agonist (APJ receptor agonist,APJ ReceptorThe body is a Class A G protein-coupled receptor.), in combination with Eli Lilly's Zepbound (tirzepatide) and other incretin-based therapies for obesity. The study of Zepbound is expected to begin in mid-2024 in collaboration with Eli Lilly. Azelaprag, an oral medication, has the potential to significantly enhance weight loss and improve body composition when used in conjunction with any incretin-based therapy. In a Phase 1b trial, azelaprag promoted muscle metabolism in healthy elderly volunteers on bed rest, increased energy expenditure, and prevented muscle atrophy. In preclinical studies,azelapragBy improving body composition and muscle function, the weight loss effect of incretin drugs was doubled.
BioAge has discovered a novel family of chemically new NLRP3 inhibitors. BGE-100 is the most advanced project. It is a potent and highly brain-penetrant drug with the potential to address a range of neurodegenerative diseases caused by neuroinflammation.Kristen Fortney, Ph.D., CEO and Co-Founder of BioAge, stated:"We are thrilled to collaborate with a consortium of top-tier investors and pharmaceutical companies to develop novel therapies for metabolic diseases. This funding will support us in achieving critical clinical milestones and advancing our lead compound."azelapragData from obesity treatments read out, advancing our early metabolic aging pipeline.azelaprag"The project highlights the ability of our discovery platform to identify new approaches for treating metabolic diseases."
2021, BioAge and AmgBioAge Labs, Inc. has signed an exclusive global licensing agreement to develop and commercialize Amgen's clinical-stage APJ agonist, BGE-105 (named AMG 986 by Amgen), for improving muscle aging. In the elderly, muscle aging leads to loss of strength, mobility, and function, contributing to mortality, multiple age-related diseases, and reduced overall quality of life.APJ and its natural agonist apelin are components of signaling pathways that regulate various aspects of muscle metabolism, growth, and repair.
In early 2021, BioAge initiated Phase 2 clinical trials for two licensed drugs: BGE-117, a potent HIF-PH inhibitor for unexplained anemia caused by aging, and to be developed for indications related to muscle weakness; BGE-175 is a PGD2 DP1 receptor inhibitor for the treatment of COVID-19, and will be developed for age-related immune system disorders. CurrentlyBGE-117 andBGE-175Already removed from the product line.
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