- Oral PL7737 significantly decreased food intake and body
weight
- Oral small molecule melanocortin 4 agonist (MC4R) could
address unmet needs and challenges of current obesity
treatments
- Multiple clinical trials targeted in calendar year 2025 for
the Company's obesity programs
CRANBURY, N.J., Nov. 4, 2024
/PRNewswire/ -- Palatin Technologies, Inc. (NYSE
American: PTN), a biopharmaceutical company developing
first-in-class medicines based on molecules that modulate the
activity of the melanocortin receptor (MCR) system, today announced
that preclinical data from the Company's melanocortin 4 receptor
(MC4R) selective PL7737 obesity program will be highlighted in a
poster presentation at ObesityWeek® 2024, the annual
meeting of the Obesity Society held in San Antonio, Texas. PL7737 is a highly
selective, orally active, small molecule MC4R agonist being
developed for the treatment of various metabolic disorders.
The presentation illustrates and summarizes preclinical studies
of the effect of orally administered PL7737 on body weight and food
intake in diet-induced obese (DIO) mice and MC4R knockout (MC4R-KO)
mice. The studies demonstrated that treatment with oral PL7737
significantly decreased food intake and body weight in DIO mice,
but not in MC4R-KO mice, validating that decreased food intake and
body weight was MC4R mediated. Additionally presented data showed
that PL7737 lacked erectogenic activity, which is desirable for the
intended indication. PL7737's emerging efficacy and safety profile
supports its potential as an effective obesity treatment while
minimizing side effects present in other MC4R agonists.
"The promising oral bioavailability and efficacy data highlights
our expertise and efforts in melanocortin MC4R drug development,"
said Carl Spana, Ph.D., President
and Chief Executive Officer of Palatin. "There is an unmet medical
need for obesity treatments, and an orally active small molecule
MC4R agonist could be a promising option for obese patients. We are
excited to advance our obesity programs and start clinical trials
in 2025 with our novel, long-acting MC4R peptide and small molecule
compounds aimed at treating general obesity, weight loss
management, and rare MC4R pathway diseases like hypothalamic
obesity."
Palatin is currently conducting a Phase 2 clinical trial with
the MC4R agonist bremelanotide in combination with tirzepatide, a
GLP-1/GIP. Enrollment is complete, and topline results are expected
in the first quarter of calendar year 2025.
The MC4R pathway plays a key role in the regulation of energy
storage and food intake. The novel MC4R selective agonists being
developed by Palatin could potentially play a vital role in
treating obesity as monotherapy and/or combination therapy.
The poster (#627), entitled "Melanocortin Agonist PL7737
Causes Weight Loss and Decreases Food Consumption in Obese
Mice," will be presented tomorrow, Tuesday, November 5th, from
2:30 to 3:30 pm Central Time by lead
author John H. Dodd, Ph.D., Senior
Vice President Research & Development at Palatin Technologies.
Obesity Week is being held at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention
Center in San Antonio, Texas. A
copy of the poster can be found on Palatin's website
www.palatin.com under Resources.
About ObesityWeek
The preeminent international conference for obesity researchers
and clinicians, ObesityWeek® is home to the latest
developments in evidence-based obesity science: cutting-edge basic
and clinical research, state-of-the-art obesity treatment and
prevention, and the latest efforts in advocacy and public policy.
Overcoming obesity requires multi-disciplinary approaches. This is
the conference that encompasses the full spectrum of obesity
science: from basic science research, to translational research and
clinical application, to public policy; from diet, exercise,
lifestyle, and psychology to medical and surgical interventions;
from pediatric to geriatric to underserved populations.
ObesityWeek® 2024 will be held November 2-6 in San
Antonio, Texas1.
About Melanocortin 4 Receptor Agonists Effect on
Obesity
Genetic analysis has identified the melanocortin 4 receptor
(MC4R) of the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus as
playing a central role in appetite regulation. Genetic mutations
that inhibit signaling in the MC4R pathway lead to hyperphagia,
decreased energy expenditure and early-onset obesity; such
mutations have been identified as the cause of several rare genetic
obesity disorders. Agouti-related peptide is an endogenous
antagonist of the MC4R that works with neuropeptide Y to stimulate
appetite, whereas MC4R agonists such as α- and
β-melanocyte-stimulating hormone promote satiety. Agonism of the
MC4R therefore represents an attractive target for potential
obesity treatments.
About Melanocortin Receptor Agonists
The melanocortin receptor ("MCR") system has effects on
inflammation, immune system responses, metabolism, food intake, and
sexual function. There are five melanocortin receptors, MC1R
through MC5R. Modulation of these receptors, through use of
receptor-specific agonists, which activate receptor function, or
receptor-specific antagonists, which block receptor function, can
have medically significant pharmacological effects.
Many tissues and immune cells located in the eye (and other
places, for example the gut and kidney) express melanocortin
receptors, empowering our opportunity to directly activate natural
pathways to resolve disease inflammation.
About Obesity
Obesity, which is defined as a body mass index (BMI) ≥30 kg/m2,
represents a rising worldwide public health concern. Obesity is
associated with an increased risk of overall mortality and serious
health conditions, including high blood pressure, high cholesterol,
type 2 diabetes, coronary heart disease, stroke and certain
cancers. Health-related quality of life is significantly lower
among adults with obesity, and obesity is associated with increased
health care resource use and high economic burden. Safe and
effective obesity treatments therefore remain a critical unmet
need. The global increase in the prevalence of obesity is a public
health issue that has severe cost implications to healthcare
systems. In the United States,
about 42% of adults live with obesity, and one out of five teens
between the ages of 12-19 live with obesity.
About Palatin
Palatin is a biopharmaceutical company developing first-in-class
or best-in-class therapies based on molecules that modulate the
activity of the melanocortin receptor systems, with targeted,
receptor-specific product candidates for the treatment of diseases
with significant unmet medical need and commercial potential.
Palatin's strategy is to develop products and then form marketing
collaborations with industry leaders to maximize their commercial
potential. For additional information regarding Palatin, please
visit Palatin's website at www.Palatin.com and follow Palatin
on Twitter at @PalatinTech.
Forward-looking Statements
Statements in this press release that are not historical facts,
including statements about future expectations of Palatin
Technologies, Inc., such as statements about Palatin products in
development, clinical trial results, potential actions by
regulatory agencies including the FDA, regulatory plans,
development programs, proposed indications for product candidates,
and market potential for product candidates are "forward-looking
statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act
of 1933, Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and as
that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform
Act of 1995. Palatin intends that such forward-looking statements
be subject to the safe harbors created thereby. Such
forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks,
uncertainties and other factors that could cause Palatin's actual
results to be materially different from its historical results or
from any results expressed or implied by such forward-looking
statements. Palatin's actual results may differ materially from
those discussed in the forward-looking statements for reasons
including, but not limited to, results of clinical trials,
regulatory actions by the FDA and other regulatory and the need for
regulatory approvals, Palatin's ability to fund development of its
technology and establish and successfully complete clinical trials,
the length of time and cost required to complete clinical trials
and submit applications for regulatory approvals, products
developed by competing pharmaceutical, biopharmaceutical and
biotechnology companies, commercial acceptance of Palatin's
products, and other factors discussed in Palatin's periodic filings
with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Palatin is not
responsible for updating events that occur after the date of this
press release.
Palatin Technologies® is a registered trademark of Palatin
Technologies, Inc.
1 https://obesityweek.org/
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SOURCE Palatin Technologies, Inc.