BioAge Labs Introduces First Scientific Advisory Board for Metabolic Aging Therapies

BioAge Labs, Inc., a clinical-stage biotechnology company based in Richmond, California, is making strides in the field of metabolic diseases by focusing on the biology of aging. Recently, BioAge announced the creation of its Scientific Advisory Board (SAB), composed of eminent experts in metabolic disease biology, obesity medicine, and the clinical development of therapeutics. This board will provide strategic guidance as BioAge advances its pipeline of treatments for age-related chronic metabolic conditions into more advanced clinical stages.

Kristen Fortney, Ph.D., co-founder and CEO of BioAge, expressed excitement about collaborating with these distinguished scientists and drug developers. She emphasized that their extensive experience across all phases of drug development, from discovery to commercialization, would be crucial as BioAge moves its lead product candidate into Phase 2 clinical trials for obesity.

BioAge’s lead product candidate, azelaprag, is an orally administered agonist of the apelin receptor APJ. It has shown promise in preclinical studies for significantly enhancing weight loss and improving metabolic parameters when used alongside GLP-1 receptor agonists. The company plans to initiate a Phase 2 trial in mid-2024, testing azelaprag in combination with tirzepatide (Zepbound®) for treating obesity in older adults.

The BioAge SAB includes several notable figures:

1. Caroline M. Apovian, MD, FACP, FTOS, DABOM: A Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School and Co-Director of the Center for Weight Management and Wellness at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. Dr. Apovian is a recognized expert in the clinical management of obesity and has co-authored numerous obesity treatment guidelines. She also co-founded the American Board of Obesity Medicine.

2. Cedric Dray, Ph.D.: An Associate Professor at INSERM and faculty member at the RESTORE Geroscience Center at Université de Toulouse III-Paul Sabatier. Prof. Dray is known for his pioneering work on the apelin pathway, which is the target of BioAge’s lead product candidate, azelaprag.

3. William Evans, Ph.D.: An Adjunct Professor of Human Nutrition at UC Berkeley and Medicine (Geriatrics) at Duke University. Dr. Evans has led research on muscle metabolism and aging, resulting in over 350 publications. He was the first to describe sarcopenia, the age-related loss of muscle mass and strength.

4. Alexander Fleming, M.D.: Founder and Executive Chairman of Kinexum, and former supervisory physician at the US FDA. Dr. Fleming has led regulatory reviews for significant drugs for diabetes and other metabolic diseases.

5. Narimon Honarpour, M.D., Ph.D.: Senior VP and Head of Global Development at Amgen. He leads clinical development strategies and has held various roles across cardiovascular and inflammation therapeutic areas.

6. Tim Rolph, D.Phil.: Chief Scientific Officer and Co-Founder of Akero Therapeutics. Dr. Rolph has overseen the development of therapies for metabolic diseases and was previously Chief Scientific Officer of Pfizer’s Cardiovascular & Metabolic Disease unit.

Eric Morgen, MD, co-founder and Chief Operating Officer of BioAge, noted the collaboration with the SAB experts in harnessing the biology of apelin to improve the lives of patients with obesity and other metabolic conditions. He emphasized leveraging their expertise in drug development to guide other programs in BioAge’s metabolic disease pipeline.

BioAge Labs, Inc. is dedicated to developing therapeutic candidates for metabolic diseases by targeting human aging biology. Azelaprag, their lead product candidate, has shown potential in promoting metabolism and preventing muscle atrophy. The company also plans to advance its preclinical programs based on novel insights from human longevity data, addressing key pathways in metabolic aging.

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