iBio and AstralBio Provide Update on Myostatin Program for Obesity
10 October 2024 - 11:00PM
iBio, Inc. (NYSEA:IBIO), an AI-driven innovator of precision
antibody immunotherapies, today provided an update on the myostatin
program for cardiometabolic disease and obesity in collaboration
with AstralBio. iBio’s technology stack enabled the Company to
rapidly advance the joint myostatin program from inception to in
vitro proof-of-concept in human muscle cells. Following early
discovery, the companies have identified a molecule with
therapeutic potential for treating muscle wasting and obesity,
which is designed for subcutaneous administration and has potential
for an extended half-life. The companies are currently working on
plans to advance this molecule into non-cGMP in vivo studies in
rodents and non-human primates (NHP) with potential early readouts
of the NHP in early 2025.
"Myostatin inhibitors hold great promise for
treating obesity and cardiometabolic diseases by increasing muscle
mass and boosting metabolism," said Martin Brenner, Ph.D., DVM,
iBio’s CEO and Chief Scientific Officer. "However, a best-in-class
approach is essential to ensure the next generation of myostatin
therapies can effectively address the needs of a large population
of obese patients. This means focusing on two critical aspects:
high potency and an extended half-life. While our work is still in
the early stages, we are optimistic our novel molecule could
overcome some of these challenges by offering an alternative to
intravenous administration and a treatment paradigm with less
frequent dosing."
As part of the collaboration, iBio has the
exclusive option to license three cardiometabolic targets from
AstralBio and will receive the rights to develop, manufacture and
commercialize those targets upon exercise. In the event iBio
triggers the option to in-license the myostatin program, its goal
is to file an Investigational New Drug (IND) application by the end
of 2025.
“iBio’s AI-powered platform is an innovative
tool for discovering and engineering potential new therapies, and
we’re eager to use it in our shared mission to treat
cardiometabolic diseases. By focusing on the TGFβ superfamily,
including myostatin, we believe we can efficiently advance
therapies that address conditions like obesity and muscle wasting,”
said Patrick Crutcher, CEO of AstralBio. “By leveraging iBio’s
expertise and team, we have built differentiated antibodies
incorporating Fc-engineering to enable half-life extended
therapeutics that could be potentially best-in-class. We are
thrilled with the progress made on this program and look forward to
advancing it further.”
About iBio, Inc.
iBio is an AI-driven innovator that develops
next-generation biopharmaceuticals using computational biology and
3D-modeling of subdominant and conformational epitopes,
prospectively enabling the discovery of new antibody treatments for
hard-to-target cancers, and other diseases. iBio’s mission is to
decrease drug failures, shorten drug development timelines, and
open up new frontiers against the most promising targets. For more
information, visit www.ibioinc.com.
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
Certain statements in this press release
constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the
federal securities laws. Words such as "may," "might," "will,"
"should," "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "estimate,"
"continue," "predict," "forecast," "project," "plan," "intend" or
similar expressions, or statements regarding intent, belief, or
current expectations, are forward-looking statements. These
forward-looking statements are based upon current estimates and
assumptions and include statement regarding the identification of a
lead molecule with potential extended half-life and subcutaneous
dosing; the identification of a molecule with therapeutic potential
for treating muscle wasting and obesity; plans to advance the
molecule into non-cGMP in vivo studies in rodents and non-human
primates (NHP) with potential early readouts of the NHP in early
2025; myostatin inhibitors holding great promise for treating
obesity and cardiometabolic diseases by increasing muscle mass and
boosting metabolism; the novel molecule overcoming some challenges
by offering an alternative to intravenous administration and a
treatment paradigm with less frequent dosing; filing an
Investigational New Drug (IND) application by the end of 2025 in
the event iBio triggers the option to in-license the myostatin
program; iBio’s AI-powered platform discovering and engineering
potential new therapies; iBio efficiently advancing therapies that
address conditions like obesity and muscle wasting; and the
differentiated antibodies built that incorporate Fc-engineering
being potentially best-in-class. While the Company believes these
forward-looking statements are reasonable, undue reliance should
not be placed on any such forward-looking statements, which are
based on information available to us on the date of this release.
These forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and
uncertainties, many of which are difficult to predict that could
cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations
and assumptions from those set forth or implied by any
forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause
actual results to differ materially from current expectations
include, among others, the Company’s ability to develop a
best-in-class lead molecule with an extended half-life and
subcutaneous dosing that treats muscle wasting and obesity; the
ability to advance the molecule into non-cGMP in vivo studies in
rodents and non-human primates (NHP) with early readouts of the NHP
in early 2025; the ability to file an IND by the end of 2025 in the
event that iBio triggers the in-licensing option; and the ability
of the molecule to overcome some challenges by offering an
alternative to intravenous administration and a treatment paradigm
with less frequent dosing; and the other factors discussed in the
Company’s filings with the SEC including the Company’s Annual
Report on Form 10-K for the year ended June 30, 2024. The
information in this release is provided only as of the date of this
release, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update any
forward-looking statements contained in this release on account of
new information, future events, or otherwise, except as required by
law.
Contact:
iBio, Inc. Investor Relations ir@ibioinc.com
Susan Thomas iBio, Inc. Media Relations
susan.thomas@ibioinc.com
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