Zealand Pharma advances ZP2929 into Phase I development for the treatment of Type 2 diabetes and/or obesity

First study participant dosed in a Phase I study with novel dual acting glucagon/GLP-1 peptide agonist in partnership with Boehringer Ingelheim

17-Sep-2012 - Denmark

Zealand Pharma A/S announced that the first participant has been dosed in the first Phase I clinical study of ZP2929.

ZP2929 is a dual acting glucagon/GLP-1 peptide agonists, invented by Zealand Pharma and with global rights out-licensed to Boehringer Ingelheim as part of a global license and research collaboration between the two companies on dual acting glucagon/GLP-1 agonists for the treatment of patients with Type 2 diabetes and/or patients with obesity. Under the terms of the collaboration, Boehringer Ingelheim will finance all clinical development activities of ZP2929, including Phase I. Zealand Pharma will be responsible for conducting the first Phase I study, and Boehringer Ingelheim will be responsible for the clinical development thereafter. The advancement of ZP2929 into clinical development triggers a milestone payment to Zealand Pharma from Boehringer Ingelheim.

In validated pre-clinical models of diabetes (db/db mice) and obesity (Diet Induced Obese (DIO) mice), ZP2929 has been shown to significantly improve glycemic control (HbA1c) and induce a sustained weight loss for at least 6 weeks.

The clinical development of ZP2929 will start with a randomized, double-blind, first in human study to evaluate the safety and tolerability of single ascending daily doses of ZP2929 in healthy subjects. The study will be conducted in the United States under an Investigational New Drug (IND) application with the FDA.

Christian Grøndahl, Chief Scientific Officer at Zealand Pharma, commented: “ZP2929 is one of Zealand Pharma’s most innovative peptide drug candidates and the most advanced under our collaboration with Boehringer Ingelheim. ZP2929 may turn out to address a large unmet medical need in the field of metabolic diseases, namely better treatment of patients with diabetes and/or patients who are overweight or obese, and we are pleased to have advanced this exciting drug candidate into the clinic. The initiation of clinical studies also marks an important milestone for our R&D efforts jointly with our partner to advance other dual acting glucagon/GLP-1 peptide agonists for the treatment of Type 2 diabetes and/or obesity.”

https://www.bionity.com/en/news/139718/zealand-pharma-advances-zp2929-into-phase-i-development-for-the-treatment-of-type-2-diabetes-and-or-obesity.html