Kallyope has initiated a Phase 2 trial evaluating K-757 and K-833, new oral nutrient receptor agonists being studied for obesity and Type 2 diabetes. The trial, K-757 P006, aims to demonstrate the weight-loss efficacy, safety, and tolerability of these novel agents for patients with obesity, a growing epidemic in the US.
K-757 and K-833 are new oral nutrient receptor agonists that enhance the body’s natural metabolic signals to stimulate the secretion of multiple appetite-suppressing satiety hormones, including GLP-1, and several other well validated satiety hormones, such as PYY and CCK. This is similar to the effect on these natural appetite-suppressing hormones that is seen after bariatric surgery. They are the only known oral nutrient receptor agonists being studied for the treatment of obesity.
The mechanism of action for K-757 and K-833 is fundamentally different from the GLP-1 agonists now in the market. Research indicates that Kallyope’s approach may mimic the hormone release that occurs with bariatric surgery, which many consider the gold standard for sustainable weight loss. The company anticipates that this approach will be beneficial for both weight loss and glycaemic control and may be easier to take and to tolerate than GLP-1s, explained Nancy Thornberry, founding CEO and chair, Research and Development, Kallyope.
“It is critical that we identify novel therapies that are safe, well tolerated, and effective for weight loss, both as stand-alone medicines and to work in combination with other drugs,” said Dr Brett Lauring, Chief Medical Officer, Kallyope. “The population of people living with obesity is highly diverse and only beginning to be understood, and there is a need for multiple agents in multiple classes in order to address their different needs.”
A therapeutic with the potential to deliver meaningful weight loss and glycaemic efficacy with GI tolerability, simple titration, lower cost, and improved patient access compared to many available agents will help enable the widespread treatment needed to have material impact on public health, added Jay Galeota, president and CEO, Kallyope. K-757 and K-833 represent a first-in-class oral approach that may greatly enhance treatment options for people affected by obesity and Type 2 diabetes.