Antag Therapeutics, a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing novel treatments for obesity, has announced the appointment of Dr. Joerg Moeller as Chief Executive Officer. Dr. Moeller, formerly Head of Global R&D at Bayer AG, brings over 30 years of industry experience to Antag as the company prepares to initiate clinical trials for its lead candidate, AT-7687, in early 2025. AT-7687 is a first-in-class, once-weekly subcutaneous antagonist of the Glucose-Dependent Insulinotropic Polypeptide Receptor (GIPR).
Leadership Transition and Strategic Focus
Dr. Moeller succeeds Antag's Co-Founder, Dr. Alexander Sparre-Ulrich, who will transition to the role of Chief Operating Officer. This leadership change comes at a pivotal time for Antag as it advances AT-7687 into Phase 1 clinical development. Philip Just Larsen, MD, PhD, Chair of Antag Therapeutics Board of Directors, highlighted Dr. Moeller's proven track record in pharmaceutical innovation and his experience in driving companies through critical growth phases.
AT-7687: A Novel Approach to Obesity Treatment
AT-7687 represents a novel mechanism of action in obesity management. By antagonizing the GIP receptor, AT-7687 aims to enhance the efficacy of GLP-1-based therapies while mitigating tolerability issues. Preclinical data and human genetic validation suggest that reducing GIP receptor activity is associated with leanness, indicating the therapeutic potential of AT-7687. The drug is designed for once-weekly subcutaneous administration.
Clinical Development and Future Plans
Antag Therapeutics completed a €80 million Series A financing and received U.S. FDA IND clearance in 2024, enabling the advancement of AT-7687 into Phase 1 clinical trials. The company believes that AT-7687 has the potential to deliver superior weight loss and revolutionize obesity management, offering metabolic benefits as both a monotherapy and in combination with other therapies. The Phase 1 trial will assess the safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetics of AT-7687 in obese patients.
Market Opportunity and Unmet Need
Obesity is a significant global health challenge, with increasing prevalence and associated cardiometabolic complications. Current treatments, including GLP-1 receptor agonists, have shown efficacy but can be limited by tolerability issues. AT-7687's novel mechanism of action offers a potential solution to enhance efficacy and improve patient outcomes in obesity management. Joerg Moeller, MD, commented: "Antag's innovative approach and new mechanism of action in obesity treatment, rooted in pioneering GIP receptor antagonism, holds tremendous potential to address the global rise of people living with obesity and improve the current standard of care."
