Northstrive Biosciences Inc., a Subsidiary of PMGC Holdings Inc., Signs Agreement For Preclinical Mouse Study of EL-32, a Potential Breakthrough Obesity Therapy Targeting Fat Loss and Muscle Preservation in Combination with GLP-1
PMGC Holdings (NASDAQ: ELAB) announced that its subsidiary, Northstrive Biosciences, has signed a research agreement with a leading preclinical CRO to evaluate EL-32, a novel engineered probiotic, both alone and in combination with semaglutide for obesity treatment.
The study will assess EL-32's impact on glycemic control and body composition in diet-induced obese mice. EL-32 targets dual myostatin and activin-A pathways to preserve muscle mass during weight loss, addressing a significant limitation of current GLP-1 receptor agonists, which can cause 40-60% of weight loss to come from lean body mass.
The CRO will provide study results and a detailed report within three months of completion. Previous preclinical data has shown that EL-32 administration resulted in statistically significant improvements in physical muscular function and body composition.
PMGC Holdings (NASDAQ: ELAB) ha annunciato che la sua sussidiaria, Northstrive Biosciences, ha firmato un accordo di ricerca con un importante CRO preclinico per valutare EL-32, un nuovo probiotico ingegnerizzato, sia da solo che in combinazione con semaglutide per il trattamento dell'obesità.
Lo studio valuterà l'impatto di EL-32 sul controllo glicemico e sulla composizione corporea in topi obesi indotti dalla dieta. EL-32 mira a colpire i percorsi duali myostatin e activin-A per preservare la massa muscolare durante la perdita di peso, affrontando un'importante limitazione degli attuali agonisti del recettore GLP-1, che possono causare che il 40-60% della perdita di peso derivi dalla massa corporea magra.
Il CRO fornirà i risultati dello studio e un rapporto dettagliato entro tre mesi dal completamento. Dati preclinici precedenti hanno mostrato che l'amministrazione di EL-32 ha portato a miglioramenti statisticamente significativi nella funzione muscolare fisica e nella composizione corporea.
PMGC Holdings (NASDAQ: ELAB) anunció que su filial, Northstrive Biosciences, ha firmado un acuerdo de investigación con un destacado CRO preclínico para evaluar EL-32, un probiótico ingenierizado novel, tanto solo como en combinación con semaglutida para el tratamiento de la obesidad.
El estudio evaluará el impacto de EL-32 en el control glucémico y la composición corporal en ratones obesos inducidos por la dieta. EL-32 tiene como objetivo las vías duales de myostatina y activina-A para preservar la masa muscular durante la pérdida de peso, abordando una limitación significativa de los actuales agonistas del receptor GLP-1, que pueden hacer que el 40-60% de la pérdida de peso provenga de la masa corporal magra.
El CRO proporcionará los resultados del estudio y un informe detallado dentro de los tres meses posteriores a la finalización. Los datos preclínicos anteriores han demostrado que la administración de EL-32 resultó en mejoras estadísticamente significativas en la función muscular física y la composición corporal.
PMGC Holdings (NASDAQ: ELAB)은 자회사가 Northstrive Biosciences로, 비만 치료를 위한 세마글루타이드와의 조합에서 새로운 엔지니어링 프로바이오틱 EL-32를 단독 및 함께 평가하기 위한 연구 계약을 주요 비임상 CRO와 체결했다고 발표했습니다.
이 연구는 EL-32가 식이 유도 비만 쥐에서 혈당 조절 및 신체 조성에 미치는 영향을 평가합니다. EL-32는 체중 감소 동안 근육량을 보존하기 위해 이중 미오스타틴 및 액티빈-A 경로를 타겟으로 하여 현재 GLP-1 수용체 작용제의 40-60%가 지방이 아닌 체중 감소에서 발생할 수 있는 중요한 한계를 해결합니다.
CRO는 연구 완료 후 3개월 이내에 연구 결과와 세부 보고서를 제공할 것입니다. 이전 비임상 데이터에 따르면 EL-32의 투여가 신체 근육 기능 및 신체 조성에서 통계적으로 유의미한 개선을 나타냈습니다.
PMGC Holdings (NASDAQ: ELAB) a annoncé que sa filiale, Northstrive Biosciences, a signé un accord de recherche avec un CRO préclinique de premier plan pour évaluer EL-32, un probiotique innovant, à la fois seul et en combinaison avec la sémaglutide pour le traitement de l'obésité.
La studie évaluera l'impact d'EL-32 sur le contrôle glycémique et la composition corporelle chez des souris obèses induites par le régime alimentaire. EL-32 cible les voies myostatine et activine-A pour préserver la masse musculaire pendant la perte de poids, répondant ainsi à une limitation importante des agonistes des récepteurs GLP-1 actuels, qui peuvent faire en sorte que 40 à 60 % de la perte de poids provienne de la masse corporelle maigre.
Le CRO fournira les résultats de l'étude et un rapport détaillé dans un délai de trois mois suivant son achèvement. Des données précliniques antérieures ont montré que l'administration d'EL-32 a entraîné des améliorations statistiquement significatives de la fonction musculaire physique et de la composition corporelle.
PMGC Holdings (NASDAQ: ELAB) hat angekündigt, dass ihre Tochtergesellschaft Northstrive Biosciences einen Forschungsvertrag mit einem führenden präklinischen CRO unterzeichnet hat, um EL-32, ein neuartiges, entwickeltes Probiotikum, sowohl allein als auch in Kombination mit Semaglutid zur Behandlung von Adipositas zu bewerten.
Die Studie wird die Auswirkungen von EL-32 auf die glykämische Kontrolle und die Körperzusammensetzung bei diätinduzierter fettleibigen Mäusen bewerten. EL-32 zielt auf doppelte Myostatin- und Activin-A-Weg ab, um die Muskelmasse während des Gewichtsverlusts zu erhalten, und adressiert eine bedeutende Einschränkung der aktuellen GLP-1-Rezeptor-Agonisten, die dazu führen können, dass 40-60 % des Gewichtsverlusts aus fettfreier Körpermasse stammen.
Der CRO wird die Studienergebnisse und einen detaillierten Bericht innerhalb von drei Monaten nach Abschluss bereitstellen. Frühere präklinische Daten haben gezeigt, dass die Verabreichung von EL-32 zu statistisch signifikanten Verbesserungen der körperlichen Muskel-Funktion und der Körperzusammensetzung führte.
- Previous preclinical data shows statistically significant improvements in muscular function and body composition with EL-32
- Potential to address a major limitation of GLP-1 drugs by preserving muscle mass during weight loss
- Partnership with a leading CRO specializing in metabolic disorders
- EL-32 is still in early preclinical stage with no human trial data
- Results from the mouse study won't be available for at least 3 months
Insights
The announcement of this preclinical mouse study for EL-32 represents a strategic move into the rapidly expanding GLP-1 weight loss market, currently dominated by drugs like Wegovy and Ozempic. The study's focus on combining EL-32 with semaglutide addresses a important limitation in current GLP-1 therapies - the significant 40-60% loss of lean muscle mass during treatment.
The scientific approach is particularly noteworthy. EL-32's dual targeting of myostatin and activin-A pathways is based on clinically validated mechanisms. These pathways are well-known regulators of muscle mass and their manipulation could potentially solve the muscle loss problem that has been a major concern for healthcare providers prescribing GLP-1s.
From a market perspective, this represents a significant opportunity. The global GLP-1 market is projected to reach
- Timeline to Market: This is an early-stage preclinical study, with years of development still needed before potential commercialization
- Technical Risk: The complexity of using engineered probiotics for protein expression in vivo presents significant development challenges
- Commercial Strategy: Success would likely require partnership with major GLP-1 manufacturers
- Regulatory Path: Novel combination therapies often face additional scrutiny from regulatory authorities
The three-month timeline for study results provides a near-term catalyst for potential value creation. The involvement of a specialized CRO with expertise in metabolic disorders adds credibility to the development program. However, this remains an early-stage, high-risk program that will require significant additional capital and development work to reach commercialization.
- Groundbreaking research to evaluate the effects of EL-32, alone and in combination with semaglutide, on glycemic control and body composition in diet-induced obese mice.
- EL-32 is an engineered probiotic expressing dual myostatin & activin-A, focusing on two clinically validated targets that play an important role in regulating muscle.
NEWPORT BEACH, Calif., Jan. 30, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- PMGC Holdings Inc. (formerly Elevai Labs Inc.) (the “Company” or “PMGC”) (Nasdaq: ELAB), today announced that its subsidiary, Northstrive Biosciences Inc. (“Northstrive Biosciences”), has executed a research agreement (“Research Agreement”) with a leading preclinical contract research organization (“CRO”) specializing in metabolic disorders. This Research Agreement will support a preclinical study carried out by the CRO and designed to evaluate EL-32, a novel engineered probiotic, as a monotherapy and in combination with the GLP-1 receptor agonist semaglutide, focusing on its impact on glycemic control and body composition in diet-induced obese (DIO) mice. Pursuant to the research agreement, within three months of completion of this study, the CRO will provide results of this study to Northstrive Biosciences and deliver a report to Northstrive Biosciences describing the work envisaged in the Research Agreement.
Northstrive Biosciences believes that EL-32 has the potential to treat obesity in combination with popular weight loss therapeutics, including GLP-1 receptor agonists, by preserving muscle mass while decreasing fat mass.
Addressing a Critical Need in Obesity Treatment
GLP-1 receptor agonists have gained prominence as effective weight loss therapeutics; however, research has shown that up to 40
Northstrive Biosciences’ lead candidate, EL-32, is an engineered probiotic targeting dual myostatin and activin-A pathways—two clinically validated targets known to regulate muscle. By addressing these pathways, EL-32 has the potential to complement GLP-1 receptor agonists by preserving muscle mass while decreasing fat mass, offering a more comprehensive approach to obesity treatment.
Innovative Study Design with Leading CRO Partner
The planned study, titled "Effects of the test agent EL-32 administered either alone or in combination with semaglutide, on glycemic control and body composition in DIO mice," will use C57BL6/J mice as the experimental model. The study will evaluate body composition and metabolic progress across treatment groups receiving EL-32, semaglutide, or a combination of both. A leading preclinical CRO with extensive expertise in metabolic disorders and preclinical research will oversee the study’s execution.
“We are thrilled to collaborate with a leading obesity CRO to advance our understanding of EL-32’s therapeutic potential,” said Deniel Mero, Co-founder of Northstrive Biosciences. “This agreement marks the beginning of an important phase of research to confirm the role of myostatin and activin-A pathways in preserving muscle mass while addressing the unmet need for muscle preservation during weight loss.”
Advancing Innovation in Metabolic Health
Northstrive Biosciences’ existing preclinical data has demonstrated that EL-32 administration results in statistically significant improvements in key measures of physical muscular function and body composition. The planned study is expected to further validate EL-32’s role as a therapeutic option that can be used in combination with existing GLP-1 therapies to treat obesity more effectively.
About Northstrive Biosciences Inc.
Northstrive Biosciences Inc., a PMGC Holdings company, is a biopharmaceutical company focusing on the development and acquisition of cutting-edge aesthetic medicines. Its lead asset, EL-22, is leveraging an engineered probiotic approach to address obesity’s pressing issue of preserving muscle while on weight loss treatments, including GLP-1 receptor agonists. For more information, please visit www.northstrivebio.com
About PMGC Holdings Inc.
PMGC Holdings Inc. is a diversified holding company that manages and grows its portfolio through strategic acquisitions, investments, and development across various industries. Currently, our portfolio consists of three wholly owned subsidiaries: Northstrive Biosciences Inc., PMGC Research Inc., and PMGC Capital LLC. We are committed to exploring opportunities in multiple sectors to maximize growth and value. For more information, please visit https://www.pmgcholdings.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
Statements contained in this press release regarding matters that are not historical facts are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended. Words such as “believes,” “expects,” “plans,” “potential,” “would” and “future” or similar expressions such as “look forward” are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this press release and are neither historical facts nor assurances of future performance. Instead, they are based only on our current beliefs, expectations and assumptions regarding the future of our business, future plans and strategies, projections, anticipated events and trends, the economy, activities of regulators and future regulations and other future conditions. Because forward-looking statements relate to the future, they are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict and many of which are outside of our control. Although the Company believes that the expectations expressed in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, it cannot assure you that such expectations will turn out to be correct, and the Company cautions investors that actual results may differ materially from the anticipated results. Therefore, you should not rely on any of these forward-looking statements. These and other risks are described more fully in PMGC Holdings’ filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), including the “Risk Factors” section of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, filed with the SEC on March 29, 2024, and its other documents subsequently filed with or furnished to the SEC. Investors and security holders are urged to read these documents free of charge on the SEC’s web site at www.sec.gov. All forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of the date on which they were made. Except to the extent required by law, the Company undertakes no obligation to update such statements to reflect events that occur or circumstances that exist after the date on which they were made.
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1Neeland IJ, Linge J, Birkenfeld AL. Changes in lean body mass with glucagon-like peptide-1-based therapies and mitigation strategies. Diabetes Obes Metab. 2024; 26(Suppl. 4): 16-27. doi:10.1111/dom.15728
FAQ
What is the purpose of ELAB's EL-32 mouse study announced in January 2025?
How does ELAB's EL-32 differ from current GLP-1 weight loss medications?
When will ELAB receive the results of the EL-32 preclinical study?
What previous results has ELAB shown for EL-32?
How does ELAB's EL-32 work in combination with GLP-1 medications?
