How are energy investors positioned?
EMERYVILLE, Calif. - BioAge Labs, Inc. (NASDAQ:BIOA), a clinical-stage biotechnology company with a market capitalization of $157 million, announced Tuesday it will profile and analyze over 17,000 samples from Norway’s HUNT Biobank to expand its drug discovery platform focused on aging-related diseases. According to InvestingPro data, the company’s stock has seen significant movement over the past year, trading between $2.88 and $26.62.
The clinical-stage biotechnology company will collaborate with Norwegian diagnostics firm Age Labs AS to generate millions of molecular readouts from samples collected over decades from more than 6,000 HUNT participants. BioAge has secured exclusive access to the resulting data for drug discovery purposes.
The company plans to analyze samples from participants whose records document the transition from health in middle age to various conditions later in life, including cardiometabolic disease and cognitive decline. Using Standard BioTools’ SomaScan assay, BioAge will quantify thousands of proteins in each sample and apply machine-learning models to connect molecular changes with disease progression.
"By deeply profiling thousands of participants at multiple points across their lives, we can watch the shift from health to early and then advanced disease, and uncover the molecular factors that keep some people healthy as they age," said Eric Morgen, COO and co-founder of BioAge.
The initiative aims to identify novel therapeutic targets by expanding BioAge’s existing platform, which already includes over 50 million molecular measurements collected across five decades.
BioAge’s lead product candidate, BGE-102, is an NLRP3 inhibitor being developed for obesity, with IND submission and Phase 1 trial initiation planned for mid-2025. The company is also developing APJ agonists for obesity treatment.
The announcement was made in a press release statement from the company. While InvestingPro data indicates the company is currently unprofitable with an EBITDA of -$81.66 million in the last twelve months, analysts have set price targets ranging from $4 to $10 per share. For detailed financial analysis and additional insights, investors can access the comprehensive Pro Research Report, available exclusively to InvestingPro subscribers.
In other recent news, BioAge Labs has announced the completion of Investigational New Drug (IND)-enabling studies for its small-molecule NLRP3 inhibitor, BGE-102. The company plans to submit an IND application by mid-2025 and expects to initiate Phase 1 clinical trials with initial data anticipated by the end of the year. Preclinical studies have shown that BGE-102 induces significant weight loss in obesity models, both as a standalone treatment and in combination with GLP-1 receptor agonists. The compound is noted for its high potency, brain penetration, and potential for once-daily oral dosing. Safety assessments indicate a favorable profile, with no adverse effects observed in preclinical studies. Jefferies analyst Roger Song has maintained a Hold rating on BioAge Labs with a $4 price target, citing promising data from BGE-102. Song noted the compound’s competitive position in the industry, particularly in its potential efficacy and safety profile. BioAge’s CEO highlighted the unique pharmacokinetics of BGE-102, which may enhance its effectiveness as an oral therapy for obesity.
This article was generated with the support of AI and reviewed by an editor. For more information see our T&C.