Obesity medications currently flooding the market have shown substantial benefits for weight loss in patients, with potential to alter the course of future disease. However, Regeneron’s Chief Scientific Officer, George Yancopoulos, sees potential for improvement. He addresses the prevalent concern that the significant weight loss achieved through GLP-1 agonists, the current favored treatment for obesity, is usually accompanied by considerable muscle loss. This muscle loss could account for up to 40% of the total weight lost, a situation that could lead to disastrous health consequences for patients.
Regeneron seeks to address these concerns by supplementing its pipeline with a combination approach, utilizing trevogrumab or garetosmab alongside semaglutide (Wegovy). This is hoped to enhance the quality aspects of weight loss experienced by patients.
The current obesity market is monopolized by Novo and Eli Lilly, with approvals for Wegovy and Zepbound respectively. Regeneron is working on answering what happens post-treatment with semaglutide, focusing on maintenance strategies for patients who have successfully achieved weight loss. They aim to develop a way for patients to maintain their weight loss without the necessity of indefinite weekly injections. This is set to be the focus of a Phase 2 study due to start in May. The trial plans to test trevogrumab in combination with semaglutide and, separately, garetosmab, with a focus on weight loss quality and maintenance post-semaglutide.
There is optimism that utilizing new pathways in conjunction with GLP-1 receptor agonism will result in comparable weight loss, with an improved emphasis on fat loss while preserving, or even increasing, muscle mass. Other companies have been looking into similar muscle preservation strategies, but Regeneron believes they have a unique approach. This is due to the company’s discovery of two in-house ligand growth factors that influence muscle size, and their attempt to block the antibodies for both of them.
Recently, Regeneron announced it has acquired the cell therapy pipeline of 2seventy bio. This asset will be integrated into a new unit called Regeneron Cell Medicines. The goal of this acquisition is to unify Regeneron’s antibody capabilities with the cell therapy methodology of 2seventy. The two companies have been collaborating since 2018. This acquisition will provide Regeneron with an opportunity to pioneer a novel combination approach in cancer treatment. This approach is currently unique to Regeneron, until other companies attempt to replicate it.
