Vivani Medical Announces Positive Preclinical Liver Fat Results with Miniature, Ultra Long-Acting GLP-1 Implant

Rhea-AI Summary

Vivani Medical (Nasdaq: VANI) has reported positive preclinical liver fat results for its exenatide implant, a miniature, ultra long-acting GLP-1 drug delivery system. The implant demonstrated an 82% reduction in liver fat compared to a sham implant in an obese mouse model. This result complements previously announced 20% weight loss data, comparable to semaglutide injections.

The company's NPM-115 program, focusing on obesity and chronic weight management, is on track to begin clinical trials in Q4 2024. The LIBERATE-1™ study will evaluate the exenatide implant against weekly injections of exenatide and semaglutide in obese and overweight patients. Vivani aims to address medication non-adherence and improve tolerability with its implant technology.

Positive

• 82% reduction in liver fat compared to sham implant in preclinical study
• 20% weight loss in preclinical study, comparable to semaglutide injections
• Clinical trials for NPM-115 program on track to begin in Q4 2024
• Potential to improve medication adherence and tolerability in obesity treatment

Negative

• None.

Insights

Medical Research Analyst

The preclinical results for Vivani's exenatide implant are highly promising. An 82% reduction in liver fat from a single administration is remarkable, potentially addressing both obesity and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). This efficacy, combined with the twice-yearly dosing, could significantly improve patient adherence compared to weekly or daily GLP-1 injections. The 20% weight loss, comparable to semaglutide, further strengthens the implant's potential. However, it's important to note these are preclinical results in mice and human trials may yield different outcomes. The planned LIBERATE-1 study will be pivotal in validating these findings in humans and comparing the implant's efficacy to established treatments like Wegovy and Bydureon BCise.

Financial Analyst

Vivani's innovative GLP-1 implant technology positions it well in the rapidly growing obesity treatment market, currently dominated by Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly. The potential for improved patient adherence and reduced side effects could give Vivani a competitive edge. However, the company faces significant challenges: it's entering a market with established players and clinical trials are yet to begin, with results not expected until 2025. This long timeline to potential commercialization means substantial R&D expenses and no near-term revenue from this product. Investors should closely monitor the upcoming LIBERATE-1 trial results and Vivani's cash position. While the potential is high, the risk is equally significant given the early stage of development.

Market Research Analyst

Vivani's exenatide implant targets a massive market opportunity. The global obesity treatment market is projected to reach $54 billion by 2030, driven by rising obesity rates and increased adoption of GLP-1 therapies. The twice-yearly dosing could be a game-changer, addressing the adherence issues plaguing current treatments. Moreover, the potential reduction in side effects due to steady drug release could expand the patient base. However, market penetration will depend on pricing strategy, reimbursement policies and the implant's long-term safety profile. The company will need to navigate complex regulatory pathways and build strong partnerships for manufacturing and distribution. While the preclinical results are encouraging, Vivani must prove the implant's efficacy and safety in humans to gain market trust and adoption.

Vivani’s GLP-1 (exenatide) implant produced sham-implant adjusted liver fat reduction of 82% in an obese mouse model from a single administration with expected twice-yearly dosing

Vivani previously announced sham-implant adjusted preclinical weight loss of 20%, which is comparable to the weight loss produced from the semaglutide (active ingredient in Ozempic^®/Wegovy^®) injection control arm in the same study

Clinical development of Vivani’s exenatide implant in overweight and obese patients as part of the Company’s NPM-115 program remains on track to commence in the fourth quarter of 2024

ALAMEDA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Vivani Medical, Inc. (Nasdaq: VANI) (“Vivani” or the “Company”), an innovative biopharmaceutical company developing miniature, ultra long-acting, subdermal drug implants, today reported positive preclinical liver fat results with its exenatide implant.

Liver fat % area for exenatide implant vs sham implant 12 weeks after a single administration. Liver fat % area is calculated using Oil Red O (ORO) staining. Values are mean ± SE. (Graphic: Business Wire)

“The reduction in liver fat observed preclinically with our miniature, subdermal exenatide implant, provides further support that the NanoPortal™ implant technology continues to hold great potential as a highly differentiated treatment option for the treatment of obesity and chronic weight management as well as related metabolic disorders,” said Adam Mendelsohn, Ph.D., Vivani President and Chief Executive Officer. “While the currently marketed GLP-1 based drugs have made profound improvements in the treatment of chronic diseases, including obesity and chronic weight management, significant barriers to optimal patient outcomes persist due to medication non-adherence and poor tolerability. We remain committed to the development of our portfolio of innovative, miniature, GLP-1 implant candidates and their potential to improve real-world patient outcomes by improving medication adherence. In addition, we believe that our implant’s minimally fluctuating release profile combined with avoiding inevitable drug fluctuations that result from poor adherence may have the potential to improve treatment tolerability, a primary complaint associated with currently available GLP-1 treatment options. Our first clinical study, LIBERATE-1™, is anticipated to start in the fourth quarter of 2024 with results in 2025.”

Liver Fat Reduction in High Fat Diet-induced Obese Mice

These liver fat data are consistent with published results from similar investigations with semaglutide, the active pharmaceutical ingredient in Ozempic and Wegovy.

Previously reported results from this study in high-fat diet-induced obese mice demonstrated that Vivani’s exenatide implant generated weight loss of approximately 20% compared to a sham implant control after a 28-day treatment duration, comparable to the weight loss observed in the semaglutide active control arm in the study. The supratherapeutic doses provided for the exenatide implant (single administration delivering exenatide at ~530 nmol/kg/day) and semaglutide (weekly injections of ~2,700 nmol/kg/week) were selected to maximize the weight-loss potential of both exenatide and semaglutide.

Weight Loss in High Fat Diet-induced Obese Mice

NPM-115 Program

In July 2024, Vivani provided an update on the clinical development plans for its obesity program, NPM-115, which will evaluate the Company’s miniature, long-acting exenatide implant in obese and overweight patients. In support of the recent strategic shift to prioritize the development of its obesity and chronic weight management portfolio, the Company announced revised plans to evaluate its GLP-1 implant as part of the NPM-115 program in individuals who are obese or overweight in the Company’s first-in-human study, LIBERATE-1. This study will enroll participants who will be titrated on weekly semaglutide (Wegovy) for eight weeks before being randomized to receive a single exenatide implant, weekly exenatide injections (Bydureon BCise^®), or weekly semaglutide injections for a nine-week treatment duration. The Company expects the study to be initiated in the fourth quarter of 2024 in Australia, pending regulatory approval, with data from the study anticipated in 2025.

Ozempic^® and Wegovy^® are a registered trademarks of Novo Nordisk A/S. Bydureon BCise^® is a registered trademark of the AstraZeneca group of companies.

About Vivani Medical, Inc.

Leveraging its proprietary NanoPortal™ platform, Vivani develops biopharmaceutical implants designed to deliver drug molecules steadily over extended periods of time with the goal of guaranteeing adherence, and potentially to improve tolerance to their medication. Vivani’s lead program, NPM-115, will evaluate a miniature, six-month, subdermal, GLP-1 (exenatide) implant for chronic weight management in obese or overweight individuals. Vivani’s emerging pipeline also includes NPM-139 (semaglutide implant) which is also under development for chronic weight management in obese and overweight patients. NPM-139 has the added potential benefit of once-yearly administration. NPM-119 refers to the Company’s clinical program which will evaluate its six-month, subdermal exenatide implant for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. These NanoPortal implants are designed to provide individuals with the opportunity to realize the full potential benefit of their medication by avoiding the challenges associated with the daily or weekly administration of orals and injectables. Medication non-adherence affects an alarming number of patients, approximately 50%, including those taking daily pills. Medication non-adherence, which contributes to more than $500 billion in annual avoidable healthcare costs and 125,000 potentially preventable deaths annually in the U.S. alone, is a primary and daunting reason why obese or overweight individuals, and those taking treatments for type 2 diabetes or other chronic diseases, face significant challenges in achieving positive real-world effectiveness. While the current GLP-1 landscape includes over 50 new molecular entities under clinical stage development, Vivani remains confident that its highly differentiated portfolio of miniature long-acting GLP-1 implants have the potential to provide an attractive therapeutic option for patients, prescribers and payers.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains certain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the “safe harbor” provisions of the US Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements can be identified by words such as: “target,” “believe,” “expect,” “will,” “may,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “would,” “positioned,” “future,” and other similar expressions that in this press release, including statements regarding Vivani’s business, products in development, including the therapeutic potential thereof, the planned development therefor, the initiation of the LIBERATE-1 trial and reporting of trial results, Vivani’s emerging development plans for NPM-115, NPM-139, and NPM-119. Forward-looking statements are neither historical facts nor assurances of future performance. Instead, they are based only on Vivani’s current beliefs, expectations, and assumptions. 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 Vivani’s control. Actual results and outcomes may differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements. Therefore, you should not rely on any of these forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause actual results and outcomes to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements include, among others, risks related to the development and commercialization of Vivani’s products, including NPM-115, NPM-139, and NPM-119; delays and changes in the development of Vivani’s products, including as a result of applicable laws, regulations and guidelines, potential delays in submitting and receiving regulatory clearance or approval to conduct Vivani’s development activities, including Vivani’s ability to commence clinical development of NPM-115; risks related to the initiation, enrollment and conduct of Vivani’s planned clinical trials and the results therefrom; Vivani’s history of losses and Vivani’s ability to access additional capital or otherwise fund Vivani’s business. There may be additional risks that the Company considers immaterial, or which are unknown. A further list and description of risks and uncertainties can be found in the Company’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission filed on March 26, 2024, as updated by the Company’s subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. Any forward-looking statement made by Vivani in this press release is based only on information currently available to the Company and speaks only as of the date on which it is made. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether written or oral, that may be made from time to time, whether as a result of added information, future developments or otherwise, except as required by law.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240904740218/en/

Company Contact:

Donald Dwyer

Chief Business Officer

info@vivani.com

(415) 506-8462

Investor Relations Contact:

Jami Taylor

Investor Relations Advisor

investors@vivani.com

(415) 506-8462

Media Contact:

Sean Leous

ICR Westwicke

sean.leous@westwicke.com

(646) 866-4012

Source: Vivani Medical, Inc.

FAQ

What were the preclinical liver fat reduction results for Vivani's exenatide implant (VANI)?

Vivani Medical's exenatide implant showed an 82% reduction in liver fat compared to a sham implant in an obese mouse model.

When is Vivani Medical (VANI) expected to start clinical trials for its NPM-115 program?

Vivani Medical plans to begin clinical trials for its NPM-115 program, including the LIBERATE-1™ study, in the fourth quarter of 2024.

How does Vivani's exenatide implant (VANI) compare to semaglutide in preclinical weight loss studies?

In preclinical studies, Vivani's exenatide implant demonstrated approximately 20% weight loss, which was comparable to the weight loss observed with semaglutide injections.

What is the potential advantage of Vivani's exenatide implant (VANI) over current GLP-1 treatments?

Vivani's exenatide implant aims to improve medication adherence and potentially enhance tolerability by providing a minimally fluctuating release profile, addressing key issues with current GLP-1 treatments.