BioAge Labs has significantly expanded its apelin receptor (APJ) agonist pipeline through a strategic partnership with JiKang Therapeutics and advancement of proprietary small molecule candidates, positioning the clinical-stage biotechnology company to potentially enhance obesity treatment outcomes beyond current GLP-1 therapies.
The Emeryville-based company announced it has secured an option agreement with JiKang Therapeutics to license a novel APJ agonist nanobody that demonstrates exceptional pharmacological properties. The single-domain antibody shows at least 10-fold greater potency than apelin, the natural ligand of APJ, with half maximal effective concentration (EC50) comparable to best-in-class small molecule APJ agonists.
Strategic Partnership Advances Long-Acting Biologic Approach
Under the collaboration terms, BioAge and JiKang will jointly advance the APJ agonist nanobody through IND-enabling studies. BioAge holds an exclusive, pre-negotiated option to license the program, and if exercised, will assume sole responsibility for worldwide development and commercialization across all indications. JiKang will receive upfront option payments, research funding, and is eligible for option-exercise fees plus development, regulatory, and sales-based milestones with tiered royalties.
JiKang Therapeutics, founded by Fei Xu, PhD, specializes in targeting G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) for weight loss and metabolic diseases. Xu's research group has conducted foundational research on APJ structure and function at ShanghaiTech University for over a decade. "This collaboration with BioAge marks a critical step toward translating our APJ program from bench research to clinical applications," said Xu.
Novel Small Molecule Program Shows Promise
Simultaneously, BioAge has filed a U.S. provisional patent application in May 2025 covering a new class of orally active, chemically distinct apelin receptor agonists. These compounds deliver picomolar potency combined with favorable drug-like attributes including excellent pharmacokinetics, high solubility, and metabolic stability. The design was supported by computational modeling based on cryo-EM structural insights, rapid analog synthesis, and AI design initiatives.
Preclinical Data Demonstrates Enhanced Efficacy
BioAge identified apelin signaling as a therapeutic target through analysis of human aging cohorts using the company's proprietary platform, which revealed that higher circulating apelin levels predict both improved physical function and increased longevity. Apelin functions as an exercise-induced signaling molecule, or exerkine, that has been shown in preclinical studies to recapitulate many downstream benefits of exercise.
In preclinical obesity models, APJ agonism can approximately double the weight loss induced by GLP-1 receptor agonists while restoring healthy body composition and improving muscle function. This suggests APJ agonists could serve as pharmacological exercise mimetics to enhance incretin therapy.
"Apelin is a key target in metabolic aging, and we're happy to share significant updates on BioAge's next-generation approaches to APJ agonism," said Kristen Fortney, PhD, CEO and co-founder of BioAge. "Our preclinical data show that APJ agonism can amplify GLP-1–driven weight loss; by developing a long-acting injectable and an all-oral combination option in parallel, we aim to match diverse dosing preferences while driving greater efficacy and better body-composition outcomes."
Development Timeline and Market Strategy
BioAge plans to advance APJ agonists designed for both oral and subcutaneous administration to serve different segments of the obesity market. The company aims to file an Investigational New Drug (IND) application for an asset from its APJ program in 2026.
The dual-modality approach reflects BioAge's strategy to address diverse patient preferences while maximizing therapeutic potential. The company's broader pipeline includes BGE-102, a potent, orally available, brain-penetrant small-molecule NLRP3 inhibitor being developed for obesity, with IND submission and Phase 1 trial initiation planned for mid-2025.
