Eccogene Gets $60M from AstraZeneca After First Patient Dosed in Phase 2b Obesity and Diabetes Trial

In October 2024, Eccogene, a biopharmaceutical company focused on creating advanced oral small molecule treatments for chronic conditions such as cardiometabolic and inflammatory diseases, announced a significant milestone achievement. The company will receive a $60 million milestone payment from AstraZeneca, following the successful development progress of their investigational drug ECC5004/AZD5004. This payment was triggered by the initiation of the Phase 2b clinical program, marking the first patient dosed in these trials.

ECC5004/AZD5004 is an investigational oral small molecule GLP-1 receptor agonist, initially licensed to AstraZeneca in November 2023. The licensing agreement included an upfront payment of $185 million to Eccogene, and potential future milestone payments totaling up to $1.825 billion, in addition to royalty payments. Eccogene has retained rights for co-development and co-commercialization of the drug within China.

Globally, two Phase 2b trials named VISTA and SOLSTICE are underway. These clinical trials are evaluating the safety and effectiveness of ECC5004/AZD5004 in participants who are obese or overweight and have at least one related health condition, including type 2 diabetes. The drug is administered orally once daily to these participants.

Jingye Zhou, the Chief Executive Officer of Eccogene, emphasized the importance of this advancement, noting the significant impact of obesity and related comorbidities, which affect over a billion people worldwide. Zhou highlighted that ECC5004/AZD5004's progression into advanced clinical trials underscores the efficacy of Eccogene's research platform and the successful collaboration with AstraZeneca.

From AstraZeneca's perspective, Sharon Barr, Executive Vice President of BioPharmaceuticals R&D, expressed the urgency in advancing AZD5004, given the need for new solutions to address interconnected cardiometabolic diseases and the serious risks associated with type 2 diabetes and obesity. Barr pointed out that the initiation of these Phase 2b trials is a crucial step in providing an alternative to current injectable therapies, potentially offering a monotherapy option or a combination therapy for these conditions.

Eccogene is leveraging its deep understanding of metabolic disease pathways and translational research platform to develop a diverse pipeline of next-generation oral therapeutics. In addition to ECC5004/AZD5004, the company is advancing other clinical-stage treatments, including a THR-β agonist and an SSAO inhibitor. These compounds are designed to be used alone or in combination with GLP-1 receptor agonists to enhance treatment efficacy for obesity and its comorbidities. Furthermore, Eccogene is working on several innovative preclinical programs, such as a small molecule GIP receptor modulator.

Eccogene's dedication to developing safer and more effective oral therapies aligns with its mission to address a broad spectrum of conditions beyond obesity. The company's pipeline of small molecule candidates is built on its expertise in translational research and a profound understanding of disease pathways related to diabetes, weight loss, and cardiometabolic diseases. ECC5004/AZD5004 stands out as a potentially best-in-class therapeutic, licensed to AstraZeneca, and supported by ongoing clinical and preclinical programs targeting established pathways.

Eccogene continues to make strides in the field of biopharmaceuticals, aiming to deliver innovative treatments for chronic conditions that impact millions of lives globally.