Trial Planned for New Weight Loss Drug
FDA has accepted an Antag Therapeutics IND for its lead molecule, AT-7687, to begin a Phase 1 clinical trial to evaluate its safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetics in both healthy lean and healthy obese subjects. The study will also explore AT-7687 as a monotherapy and in combination with Novo Nordisk’s weight-loss drug Wegovy (semaglutide), a GLP-1 receptor agonist, in healthy obese individuals.
AT-7687 is described as a glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide receptor antagonist designed for once-weekly subcutaneous administration. “Highly translational preclinical studies have shown that AT-7687 attenuates weight gain and enhances GLP-1-mediated weight loss while improving lipid profiles, particularly LDL, independent of weight change,” the company says, adding that the drug is not associated with gastrointestinal side effects.