(BFM Bourse) – The biotechnology company is soaring on the Paris Stock Exchange, after unveiling a clinical program aimed at combating muscle loss associated with anti-obesity treatments.
Along with artificial intelligence, the rise of anti-obesity drugs has also shaken up the stock market landscape for the year 2023. “This is a trend so important that it is reshaping the entire sector of health”, even underlined the bank Degroof Petercam.
Jefferies had estimated for its part that “GLP-1” anti-obesity treatments (that is to say which imitate a hormone having several effects on the regulation of glucose and appetite) could represent a market of more than 100 billion dollars by 2031, 80% of which would be captured by Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly.
“Promising preclinical results”
The drugs from Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly certainly aim to lose fat mass, but they also cause a loss of muscle mass. And this is where the French company Biophytis comes into play, which announced Monday evening the launch of a new clinical program called “OBA” which aims to combat muscle loss associated with “GLP-1” anti-obesity treatments. .
According to the studies carried out, this muscle loss could concern between 30% and 40% of the total mass lost, which is considerable and, in the long term, could have repercussions on the body.
“Our product helps limit the loss of lean mass, muscle mass, strength and mobility. Now that Wegovy is on the market, these are two products that can be used in combination,” declared Stanislas Veillet, CEO, this Tuesday morning. of Biophytis on the air of BFM Business.
The BIO101 product developed by Biophytis “consists of preserving and restoring tone to muscle cells, and thus combating loss of mobility due to a loss of contractile function of muscle cells”, specifies Invest Securities.
A phase II clinical study from mid-2024
Administered orally daily, BIO101 has demonstrated metabolic effects on muscle and fat mass in preclinical studies on obesity. Also, a study carried out in obese patients during a hypocaloric diet also demonstrated “promising effects” on muscle strength and loss of fat mass.
Building on these “promising preclinical results”, Biophytis plans to launch a phase II clinical study (intermediate stage of clinical trials) in mid-2024, after obtaining regulatory authorizations. The first patients should be treated during the second half of 2024, still according to the indicative schedule provided by the company.
As part of this trial, the product BIO101 will be evaluated in obese patients treated with GLP-1 RA and following a hypocaloric diet. Biophytis will provide more detailed information on the program and the clinical study in the coming weeks. The company also estimates that it will be able to provide the first results of the effectiveness of its drug candidate in 2025.
“Our drug candidate, subject to regulatory approvals, could help address a critical medical problem, while positioning Biophytis in a large market with very high growth potential,” detailed Stanislas Veillet, CEO of Biophytis in a press release.
Loss of muscle mass is already in the research field of Biophytis. The company, listed on the stock exchange since 2015, is developing a drug candidate intended to treat sarcopenia. With age, a decline in muscle mass is inevitable. But from a certain stage of reduction in muscle mass and performance, and this is where we speak of sarcopenia.
On the Paris Stock Exchange, Biophytis shares soared by 34% to 0.004 euros after these announcements, but have seen their stock market valuation collapse by more than 99% over the last five years. The company therefore announced in mid-March a consolidation of its shares planned for the beginning of April. Shareholders will therefore be allocated one new share for every 400 old ones.
This operation, without impact for the shareholder, nevertheless allows the company concerned to regain a stock market luster lost over the course of disappointments.
Sabrina Sadgui – ©2024 BFM Bourse
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