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Regeneron and AstraZeneca to Research, Develop and Commercialize New Small Molecule Medicines for Obesity
Building on recent findings from the Regeneron Genetics Center, novel small molecule drug candidates will target GPR75 to potentially address obesity and
About this update from Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
[{"type":"text","content":"Building on recent findings from the Regeneron Genetics Center, novel small molecule drug candidates will target GPR75 to potentially address obesity and related co-morbidities\n\n\nTARRYTOWN, N.Y., July 27, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: REGN) and AstraZeneca today announced that the companies have entered into a collaboration to research, develop and commercialize small molecule compounds directed against the GPR75 target with the potential to treat obesity and related co-morbidities. The collaboration builds on the recent discovery from the Regeneron Genetics Center® of rare genetic mutations in the GPR75 gene associated with protection against obesity and on early joint research initiated soon after discovery of the target so that potential treatments can be developed as quickly as possible. The companies will evenly split research and development costs and share equally in any future potential profits.\nAs published in Science, the new target was found by sequencing nearly 650,000 people and identifying individuals with rare protective mutations. Individuals with at least one inactive copy of the GPR75 gene had lower BMI and, on average, tended to weigh about 12 pounds less and faced a 54% lower risk of obesity than those without the mutation. Strong associations were also seen with improvements in diabetes parameters, including glucose lowering. Obesity and insulin resistance are key drivers in the development of type 2 diabetes and often lead to cardiorenal complications, as well as liver disease.\n\"The next era of medicine is being fueled by important genetics findings that direct drug developers on how to deploy our toolkit of biologics, small molecules and gene editing technologies in order to safely help patients in need,\" said George D. Yancopoulos, M.D., Ph.D., President and Chief Scientific Officer of Regeneron. \"As experts on genetics and human biology, Regeneron is excited to join forces with the chemistry and small molecule leaders at AstraZeneca, as we seek to develop new medicines tackling the harmful and costly obesity epidemic.\"\n\"We are pleased to announce this important collaboration with Regeneron to identify small molecule modulators against GPR75, a newly identified target with genetic validation in metabolic disorders. Obesity and insulin resistance remain key driver...