Atelo drug produces weight loss similar to semaglutide in obese mice; combination doubles effect

Atelo Biosciences’ oral dual-acting cannabinoid produced weight loss similar to that of the GLP-1 drug semaglutide in an experiment involving obese mice.

According to Fierce Biotech on the 16th (local time), Atelo announced research findings on its candidate ART27.13 administered alone and in combination with semaglutide.

When ART27.13 was administered alone to mice made obese by a high-fat diet, they lost about 20% of their baseline body weight in 4 weeks. This was similar to the amount lost by mice given semaglutide alone.

Mice given ART27.13 together with semaglutide lost about 40% of their baseline body weight, twice the weight loss seen with semaglutide alone.

Fat accounted for about 80% of the weight lost in the ART27.13-alone and combination groups, higher than the approximately 70% in the semaglutide-alone group.

The company said the weight-loss effect was seen only in obese mice. In normal-weight mice given ART27.13 alone, body weight, fat mass and lean mass did not change.

Saoirse O’Sullivan, Atelo’s vice president of translational science, said, “The consistency of the results across the initial pilot study and follow-up study, and across all measures—including body weight, food intake, body composition and other metabolic measures—gives us confidence in the signal.”

ART27.13 is an oral agonist that targets cannabinoid receptors 1 (CB1) and 2 (CB2). The two receptors are part of the endocannabinoid system, which regulates mood, appetite, metabolism and inflammation.

O’Sullivan told Fierce Biotech that ART27.13 was designed to selectively target peripheral CB1 and CB2 receptors, minimizing effects mediated by the central nervous system.

Atelo has been developing ART27.13 as a treatment for cancer cachexia, which causes weight and muscle loss and loss of appetite in patients with advanced cancer. The ongoing phase 2 CAReS trial in 5 countries is evaluating its effects on body weight, lean mass and loss of appetite.

In September last year, Atelo announced interim phase 2 results showing that patients who reached the highest dose assessed gained an average of about 6% of their body weight over 12 weeks, while the placebo group lost about 5%.

Andy Yates, Atelo’s chief scientific officer, told Fierce Biotech that the company is in partnership discussions to advance ART27.13 for both cancer cachexia and obesity.

He said ART27.13 appeared to be a good fit for the obesity market alongside GLP-1 drugs, and noted a manufacturing advantage: It is a chemically synthesized compound that can be administered at very low doses.

“My big vision for this drug is as a weight-management compound,” Yates said.

ART27.13 was originally developed by AstraZeneca as a pain treatment under the name AZD1940. After AstraZeneca discontinued development, the rights were transferred to Montreal-based Neomed Institute.

Atelo signed an agreement with Neomed in 2017, securing an option to exclusively license the drug. Under the agreement, Neomed may receive up to $202 million in milestone payments and future sales royalties.