Versant’s latest biotech plots 2025 clinical trial of GIP antagonist, with GLP-1 combinations also in the pipeline.
The increasingly competitive obesity drug market welcomes a new player as Helicore Biopharma emerged from stealth mode with $65 million in Series A financing to develop a pipeline of glucose-dependent insulinotropic peptide (GIP) antagonists. The company’s therapeutic platform is centered around monoclonal antibodies designed to neutralize GIP signaling through ligand binding rather than blocking receptors.
The latest venture to emerge from the company creation stable of Versant Ventures, Helicore is preparing to initiate first-in-human clinical studies for its lead asset, HCR-188, a clinical-stage monoclonal antibody. By directly binding to GIP in circulation, HCR-188 neutralizes its activity, potentially reversing the metabolic mechanisms that drive obesity and insulin resistance. Top-line trial data is expected in the second half of 2025.
Helicore’s broader pipeline includes GIP antibody conjugates, including GLP-1 combinations, tailored for specific obesity subpopulations. The company is far from alone in its focus on GIP, with Kailera Therapeutics and Antag Therapeutics both emerging with significant funding in recent months.
GIP and obesity
Like the GLP-1 hormone targeted by drugs such as Ozempic, GIPs are incretin hormones that amplify insulin secretion after eating, but they have different actions. In the context of obesity, elevated GIP levels contribute to glucose intolerance and excessive fat accumulation by enhancing fatty acid uptake in adipocytes. Studies have shown that reducing GIP signaling can lead to lower body weight and improved metabolic health.
While other GIP receptor antagonists aim to block the hormone’s activity at the receptor level, Helicore’s approach focuses on reducing circulating GIP ligand, selectively neutralizing GIP before it can activate the receptor and preventing its activation of both peripheral and central nervous system (CNS) pathways. The company claims its approach has the potential to regulate adipocyte function while also restoring leptin sensitivity in the CNS, enhancing satiety and reducing food intake.
Helicore says it has also explored HCR-188 in combination with GLP-1 receptor agonists in preclinical models, with early findings indicating a preference for fat loss over lean mass reduction.
Led by President and CEO Dr Gerrit Klaerner, Helicore’s research and development efforts are supported by advanced protein engineering capabilities at Ridgeline, Versant Ventures’ discovery engine in Switzerland.
“Recent scientific advances have fundamentally changed our understanding of obesity and the conditions associated with it,” said Klaerner. “Current treatments, though impactful, often fall short of addressing the complex, long-term needs of patients. By targeting GIP directly, we’ve rapidly advanced a differentiated portfolio that may deliver superior treatment outcomes through enhanced efficacy, tolerability, and convenient dosing regimens.”
The funding was co-led by founding investor Versant Ventures and OrbiMed, with additional participation from Longitude Capital and Wellington Management.
“As we advance novel therapeutics for obesity, we must take a comprehensive view of patient needs,” said Versant boss Dr Carlo Rizzuto. “Helicore’s novel approach is backed by robust evidence and could offer cardiometabolic benefits alongside quality weight loss and improved tolerability when combined with GLP-1. This opens the door to reaching patient populations overlooked by therapies that focus solely on weight reduction as the primary marker of improvement.”
