Vivani Medical Advances NPM-139 Semaglutide Implant Toward Phase 1 Trial Following Successful Preclinical Data
Key Insights
Vivani Medical's NPM-139 semaglutide implant demonstrated sustained weight loss exceeding 20% for a full year in preclinical studies with single administration.
The company successfully completed its first-in-human LIBERATE-1 study using NanoPortal technology, showing positive safety and tolerability profiles.
Phase 1 clinical trials for NPM-139 are planned to begin in mid-2026 in Australia, with results expected by the end of 2026.
Vivani Medical has announced significant progress in advancing its NPM-139 semaglutide implant toward Phase 1 clinical trials, following successful completion of its first-in-human study and compelling preclinical data demonstrating sustained weight loss for a full year.
Breakthrough Preclinical Results
The company's preclinical studies revealed that a single administration of the NPM-139 semaglutide implant configuration achieved sustained semaglutide exposure and greater than 20% sham-adjusted weight loss for an entire year. This data supports the potential for an annual dosing regimen, representing a significant advancement in long-acting GLP-1 (search) therapy delivery.
"Our encouragement was reinforced after having recently demonstrated sustained preclinical semaglutide exposures and >20% sham-adjusted weight loss for a full year with a single implant administration," said CEO Adam Mendelsohn, Ph.D. The sustained weight loss was maintained for more than six months at the time of initial announcement and has now been demonstrated for a complete year.
LIBERATE-1 Study Success
The advancement of NPM-139 builds upon the successful completion of LIBERATE-1, Vivani's first-in-human application of its proprietary NanoPortal implant technology using exenatide. The study demonstrated a positive safety and tolerability profile with encouraging performance data, providing clinical validation for the NanoPortal platform technology.
Unique Therapeutic Advantages
According to Dr. Mendelsohn, Vivani's GLP-1 (search) implant candidates offer distinctive benefits through their potential for once- or twice-yearly administration combined with the ability to quickly eliminate GLP-1 levels between scheduled administrations when necessary. This feature addresses critical clinical needs, as GLP-1 medications are contraindicated during pregnancy and must be discontinued before certain surgical procedures with high aspiration risk.
"The ability to quickly cease treatment will be a critical feature in any GLP-1 (search) based product that provides sustained delivery for many months at a time," Mendelsohn explained.
Clinical Development Timeline
Vivani projects initiating the Phase 1 feasibility study for NPM-139 in mid-2026, with data potentially available by the end of 2026. The initial Phase 1 study will be conducted in Australia, leveraging the company's recent success with LIBERATE-1 and taking advantage of attractive tax incentives provided by the Australian government.
The company has also announced parallel preparations to initiate a Phase 2 clinical study of NPM-139, pending enabling results from the Phase 1 study and regulatory feedback.
Manufacturing and Financial Position
Vivani has made significant progress in advancing manufacturing capabilities through capital equipment purchases and facilities upgrades as part of preparations for commercial-scale manufacturing. The company raised $41.5 million in gross proceeds through multiple share purchase agreements and registered direct offerings in 2025 and 2026.
As of December 31, 2025, Vivani maintained cash and cash equivalents totaling $16.2 million, with current cash, equivalents and commitments expected to fund operations into mid-2027, enabling completion of key milestones including the Phase 1 study of NPM-139.
Technology Platform
Leveraging its proprietary NanoPortal platform, Vivani develops biopharmaceutical implants designed to deliver drug molecules steadily over extended periods with the goal of guaranteeing adherence and improving patient tolerance. The company is developing a portfolio of GLP-1 (search) based implants for metabolic diseases including obesity (search) and type-2 diabetes (search), addressing medication non-adherence that affects approximately 50% of patients taking daily pills.
Financial Performance
For the full year 2025, Vivani reported a net loss of $26.6 million compared to $23.5 million in 2024. Research and development expenses increased to $18.1 million from $15.7 million in the previous year, primarily due to increased clinical trial and development expenses from the Biopharm Division.