BioAge has halted development of its APJ agonist azelaprag due to liver enzyme elevations observed in its STRIDES Phase 2 obesity trial, according to the company.
The company said that it is advancing a next‑generation series of structurally distinct APJ agonists, aiming to nominate a development candidate by the end of 2025.
BioAge has nominated BGE‑102, an orally available brain‑penetrant NLRP3 inhibitor targeting neuroinflammation, as its lead candidate. The company claims IND‑enabling studies are underway and initial Phase 1 single‑ascending‑dose data are expected by the end of 2025.
The company continues to leverage its human‑data driven discovery platform, announcing new strategic collaborations. It said that it is working with Novartis on target identification at the joint intersection of aging biology and exercise, with up to $20 million in upfront funding and an additional $530 million tied to future milestones. A separate antibody‑discovery collaboration with Lilly ExploR&D will advance two therapeutic antibodies towards metabolic aging targets.
As of September 30, 2024, BioAge held approximately $334.5 million in cash and cash equivalents, excluding $27.6 million from its greenshoe IPO exercise. The company expects its financial reserves to extend runway beyond 2029.
