RCS - Arecor Therapeutics - Arecor and TRx Biosciences research collaboration

Arecor TherapeuticsAnnouncement

12/03/2024 07:15

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RNS Number : 4261G  Arecor Therapeutics PLC  12 March 2024

Arecor Therapeutics plc

("Arecor" or the "Company")

 

ARECOR AND TRx BIOSCIENCES ESTABLISH RESEARCH COLLABORATION TO DEVELOP ORAL
GLP-1 WITH ENHANCED BIOAVAILABILITY

 

-      Companies to combine proprietary technologies to formulate an oral
semaglutide (GLP-1 receptor agonist) product with enhanced bioavailability

-      Collaboration focused on overcoming the challenges of oral peptide
delivery using a novel lipid technology to provide a more convenient treatment
option for patients with diabetes and obesity

-      Potential to expand collaboration across multiple oral peptide
products and combination therapies in growing global market

 

Cambridge, UK, 12 March 2024: Arecor Therapeutics plc (AIM: AREC), the
biopharmaceutical group advancing today's therapies to enable healthier lives,
and TRx Biosciences Limited, a drug development company applying novel lipid
technology to the oral delivery of challenging molecules, today announced a
research collaboration for the formulation development of an oral
glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist product.

 

GLP-1 receptor agonists are a class of therapeutic peptides used to treat type
2 diabetes and obesity, in a global market predicted to reach $80-$100+
billion by 2030(1). Oral delivery of this class of drug is extremely
challenging owing to the proteolytic nature of the digestive system which
significantly reduces bioavailability. Injection remains the most common
delivery form for therapeutic peptide drugs, limiting adoption, compliance and
usage among patients, who would prefer a simpler, more practical oral therapy.

 

The only GLP-1 receptor agonist currently available to patients in pill form -
Novo Nordisk's semaglutide (Rybelsus®) - has oral bioavailability of less
than 1%(2). Using TRx Biosciences' LipiCore™ oral delivery technology
alongside Arecor's formulation platform, Arestat™, the companies intend to
jointly develop an oral GLP-1 receptor agonist product with enhanced
physicochemical properties that can achieve higher oral bioavailability and
stability.

 

Sarah Howell, Chief Executive Officer of Arecor, said: "As the global market
for GLP-1 receptor agonists grows and their use increases, significant
challenges remain in their oral delivery. With current treatment options
mostly limited to injectable therapies, many patients in need are unable to
benefit from these highly effective treatments.  Arecor has an excellent
track record developing difficult-to-achieve product profiles by deploying our
Arestat™ technology to develop unique formulations specifically designed to
overcome patient-focussed challenges. Alongside TRx Biosciences and its
expertise in targeted oral drug delivery, we have an opportunity to develop an
enhanced oral GLP-1 receptor agonist product.  In addition, if the initial
research collaboration is successful, we would hope to leverage the technology
to deliver other high value peptides via patient- preferred oral delivery
formats. I look forward to providing further updates in due course."

 

Dr Robin Bannister, Chief Executive Officer of TRx Biosciences, said: "The
effective oral delivery of peptides remains a 'holy grail', meaning patients
that require the convenience of oral treatment can't access the benefits of
new peptide therapies. By combining TRx's LipiCore™ technology with Arecor's
proven peptide expertise and Arestat™ platform, we create the opportunity to
access novel oral uptake channels and protect peptides from damage in the
gastrointestinal tract to solve this fundamental challenge. Semaglutide, given
its immense potential in the treatment of diabetes and obesity, is a highly
attractive starting point. Success with semaglutide may offer a path to
multiple oral peptide products with enhanced absorption and efficacy."

 

The collaboration provides scope for expansion, following the initial oral
GLP-1 receptor agonist programme, to develop further oral peptide products.
These include additional peptides and combination approaches which may be key
in the treatment of obesity-related health conditions, as well as peptide
products targeting multiple therapeutic areas.

 

-ENDS-

 

References

1.     Anti-Obesity Drug Sales Could Hit $80 Billion by 2030 Bloomberg
Intelligence (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fW-UPZIKwm8)

The increase in appetite for obesity drugs J.P. Morgan Global Research
(http://www.jpmorgan.com/insights/global-research/current-events/obesity-drugs#section-header)

Novo Nordisk faces several 'overlooked' trends including competition for
Wegovy, warns investment bank Proactive
(https://www.proactiveinvestors.co.uk/companies/news/1037386/novo-nordisk-faces-several-overlooked-trends-including-competition-for-wegovy-warns-investment-bank-1037386.html)

2.     Clinical Pharmacokinetics of Oral Semaglutide: Analyses of Data
from Clinical Pharmacology Trials. Clin Pharmacokinet. 2021
Oct;60(10):1335-1348. doi: 10.1007/s40262-021-01025-x. Epub 2021 May 10

 

 

For more information, please contact:

 

 Arecor Therapeutics plc                         www.arecor.com (http://www.arecor.com/)
 Dr Sarah Howell, Chief Executive Officer        Tel: +44 (0) 1223 426060

                                                 Email: info@arecor.com

 Susan Lowther, Chief Financial Officer          Tel: +44 (0) 1223 426060

                                                 Email: info@arecor.com

 Panmure Gordon (UK) Limited (NOMAD and Broker)
 Freddy Crossley, Emma Earl (Corporate Finance)  Tel: +44 (0) 20 7886 2500

 Rupert Dearden (Corporate Broking)

 WG Partners LLP (Financial Advisor)
 Nigel Barnes, Satheesh Nadarajah                Tel: +44 (0)203 705 9321

 David Wilson, Claes Spang

 ICR Consilium
 Chris Gardner, David Daley, Lindsey Neville     Tel: +44 (0) 20 3709 5700

                                                 Email: arecor@consilium-comms.com

 

 

Notes to Editors

 

About Arecor

Arecor Therapeutics plc is a globally focused biopharmaceutical company
transforming patient care by bringing innovative medicines to market through
the enhancement of existing therapeutic products. By applying our innovative
proprietary technology platform, Arestat™, we are developing an internal
portfolio of proprietary products in diabetes and other indications, as well
as working with leading pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies to deliver
therapeutic products. The Arestat™ platform is supported by an extensive
patent portfolio.

 

For further details please see our website, www.arecor.com
(http://www.arecor.com)

 

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