MetaVia posts strong Phase 1b data for DA-1726 in metabolic disease

Edited by Robert McTiernan··1 min read

MetaVia Inc., a clinical-stage biotech focused on cardiometabolic disorders, announced positive, statistically significant results from its Phase 1b clinical trial of its lead investigational therapy DA-1726 in metabolic disease.

The study showed that DA-1726 produced strong glycemic responses, direct hepatic effects, robust weight loss and a favorable safety profile in this early clinical study. The drug is an oral oxyntomodulin (OXM) analog that functions as a dual agonist at both the GLP-1 receptor and the glucagon receptor (GCGR) and is under development as a once-weekly injection for obesity and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH).

Trial results

Participants exhibited meaningful reductions in key metabolic markers, including statistically significant decreases in glucose levels and indicators of liver function, consistent with DA-1726’s mechanism.

The data demonstrated robust weight reduction among treated subjects, supporting the agent’s potential in addressing obesity and related metabolic dysregulation. DA-1726 was also generally well tolerated, with no new safety signals identified at the tested dose levels.

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About DA-1726

Originally discovered by South Korean firm Dong-A ST, MetaVia (formerly NeuroBo Pharmaceuticals) acquired the rights to DA-1726 via a licensing deal signed in 2022. The drug’s dual-target mechanism is intended to simultaneously suppress appetite and increase energy expenditure, potentially differentiating it from selective GLP-1 therapies and conferring best-in-class potential.

Other prominent GLP-1R/GCGR agonists under development include Boehringer Ingelheim’s survodutide, currently in Phase 3 trials, and AstraZeneca’s AZD9550, which is being paired with AZD6234 for obesity in early trials.

Pre-clinical data showed that DA-1726 produced greater or equivalent weight loss compared to semaglutide, tirzepatide, and survodutide in animal models, sometimes with higher food intake, suggesting increased energy expenditure, while the molecule also preserved lean body mass better than survodutide, and demonstrated superior reductions in total cholesterol and LDL-C compared to tirzepatide and pemvidutide.