Over half of all dogs in the United States today are overweight or obese, placing them at increased risk for chronic diseases, metabolic decline and shortened lifespans
Vivani Medical, Inc., a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing miniature, ultra long-acting drug implants, and Okava Pharmaceuticals, Inc. , a clinical-stage company focused on diseases of aging in dogs and cats, announced an expansion of their collaboration to include dogs in the development of OKV-119, a long-acting GLP-1 therapy for weight management, diabetes and other cardiometabolic conditions. Vivani and Okava initiated their collaboration in 2019, with a focus on developing OKV-119 for cardiometabolic conditions in cats.
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OKV-119 leverages Vivani’s proprietary NanoPortal technology, which provides smooth and steady delivery of therapeutic molecules, including GLP-1 receptor agonists, over extended periods from a single implant. According to Okava, dosing every six months or longer supports a “One-and-Done” approach between office visits consistent with the product profile of Vivani’s NPM-115, an ultra long-acting GLP-1 implant in clinical stage development to improve medication adherence and tolerability for the treatment of chronic weight management in humans.
“Caloric restriction, or fasting, is one of the most well-established interventions for extending the lifespan and improving metabolic health in dogs,” said Okava CEO Michael Klotsman, PhD, MBA. “But it is also one of the hardest to maintain. OKV-119 mimics many of the physiological effects of fasting—improved insulin sensitivity, reduced fat mass and more efficient energy metabolism—without requiring significant changes in feeding routines or disrupting the human-animal bond that often centers around food.”
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Over half of all dogs in the United States today are overweight or obese, placing them at increased risk for chronic disease, metabolic decline and shortened lifespans. Similar to the changes humans face as they grow older, aging dogs experience declines in metabolic fitness, leading to weight gain, insulin resistance and loss of muscle mass. Research shows that leaner dogs can live more than two years longer than their heavier counterparts. By restoring and maintaining a healthy metabolism through a single, long-acting dose, OKV-119 has the potential to enhance quality of life, promote healthy aging and become the most impactful life-extending therapy available for dogs.
“This collaboration aligns with Vivani’s broader mission to develop innovative medicines that will revolutionize the treatment of chronic diseases by leveraging proprietary drug delivery technologies,” said Vivani CEO Adam Mendelsohn, PhD. “This expanded partnership with Okava reflects our shared confidence in the potential of NanoPortal technology to serve a broad array of prospective beneficiaries in the management of metabolic disease. The structure of this expanded partnership minimizes costs and risks for Vivani while integrating upside potential for Vivani shareholders through future milestone payments and royalties. Together with Okava, we are broadening the reach of our technology, meeting unmet needs in veterinary medicine while positioning Vivani to capture future value within an industry segment experiencing continued and unprecedented growth.”
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Source – PR Newswire
