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CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – MetaVia Inc. (NASDAQ:MTVA), a biotech firm specializing in cardiometabolic diseases with a current market capitalization of $6.49 million, has revealed that its Phase 2a clinical trial results for DA-1241, a novel GPR119 agonist, will be featured at the upcoming European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL) Congress in Amsterdam from May 7-10, 2025. According to InvestingPro analysis, while the company holds more cash than debt on its balance sheet, it’s currently experiencing rapid cash burn, a common characteristic among early-stage biotech companies.
DA-1241 is being investigated for its potential to treat metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), a condition linked to metabolic syndrome and characterized by liver inflammation and damage due to fat accumulation in the liver. The study abstract, which will be presented as a late-breaking poster, suggests that DA-1241 has hepatoprotective and glucose-regulating effects.
The trial involved a 16-week randomized placebo-controlled study, where DA-1241 demonstrated positive outcomes in reducing liver inflammation and improving glucose control. These findings are significant as they may offer a new avenue for MASH treatment, which currently lacks FDA-approved therapies.
DA-1241 works by activating G-Protein-Coupled Receptor 119 (GPR119), which in turn promotes the release of gut peptides such as GLP-1, GIP, and PYY. These peptides are crucial for glucose and lipid metabolism and may contribute to weight loss. The therapeutic potential of DA-1241 was also supported by its performance in preclinical animal models, where it showed reductions in hepatic steatosis, inflammation, and fibrosis while improving glucose levels.
MetaVia is concurrently developing another compound, DA-1726, targeting obesity treatment. DA-1241, however, has shown a beneficial profile in both healthy volunteers and patients with type 2 diabetes in earlier Phase 1a and 1b trials, highlighting its safety and tolerability.
The poster, authored by Dr. Rohit Loomba from the University of California, San Diego, will provide a detailed account of DA-1241’s clinical trial results. Following the EASL presentation, the poster will be accessible on MetaVia’s website.
The company’s focus on cardiometabolic diseases comes at a time when such conditions are increasingly prevalent worldwide, emphasizing the need for new and effective treatments. The acceptance of the DA-1241 abstract by a prestigious congress like EASL underscores the scientific community’s interest in MetaVia’s research. Despite the stock’s significant decline of over 75% in the past year, InvestingPro data shows analyst price targets ranging from $6 to $25, suggesting potential upside from the current price of $0.75. InvestingPro subscribers have access to 14 additional key insights about MetaVia’s financial health and market position.
This article is based on a press release statement from MetaVia Inc. and does not include any promotional content. The information presented provides an overview of the company’s recent developments in its clinical trials.
In other recent news, MetaVia Inc. has reported promising results from its Phase 1 clinical trial of DA-1726, a drug candidate for obesity treatment. The trial demonstrated a dose-responsive trend in body weight reduction, with significant decreases in body mass index (BMI) among participants. Notably, the drug showed a maximum body weight reduction of 6.3% and an average reduction of 4.3% by Day 26. The study also reported a decrease in waist circumference, indicating a strong efficacy signal. Importantly, DA-1726 did not cause significant cardiovascular effects at doses up to 32 mg. Mild gastrointestinal adverse events were observed, but there were no treatment-related discontinuations. MetaVia plans to further investigate the drug’s safety and efficacy in a Phase 1 Part 3 study, focusing on patients who discontinued Wegovy® early due to tolerability issues. The company is optimistic about DA-1726’s potential as a leading obesity treatment and is preparing for additional studies to explore its maximum tolerated dose.
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