Israel-Based RedHill's Investigational COVID-19 Treatment Shows Encouraging Action In Obesity And Diabetes

On Monday, RedHill Biopharma Ltd. RDHL released results from multiple in vivo studies, undertaken by RedHill’s partner, Apogee Biotechnology Corporation.

The studies showed the impact of opaganib on weight gain and glucose tolerance in a high-fat diet (HFD) model, supporting the potential clinical use of opaganib for preventing and treating Type 2 diabetes and other obesity-related disorders.

“Sphingolipid metabolism is implicated in insulin resistance, β-cell disruption, adipocyte function, inflammation and immune regulation, vascular complications, and energy metabolism – all significant components of obesity, diabetes, and their associated complications,” said Charles Smith, Founder and CEO of Apogee Biotechnology Corporation.

“Opaganib’s ability to modulate multiple signaling pathways through simultaneous inhibition of three sphingolipid-metabolizing enzymes in human cells provides a strong rationale for evaluation of opaganib in obesity-related disorders.”

The studies were designed to examine some of the most fundamental aspects of diabetes and obesity-related disease.

The outcomes showed the benefit of opaganib therapy in suppressing HFD-induced body weight gain, loss of glucose tolerance, and fat deposition.

Additionally, opaganib treatment reduced weight gain and restored glucose tolerance in an already obese HFD model, suggesting its potential for treating, not just preventing, obesity-related disorders.

“Sphingolipid metabolism is a key pathway in many diseases, including obesity, but has not been adequately examined as a therapeutic target for human therapy,” said Mark Levitt, Chief Scientific Officer at RedHill. “Opaganib, which acts as a sphingosine competitor, is the first clinical drug to target three key enzymes in this pathway.”

Opaganib’s host-directed action is thought to work through the inhibition of multiple pathways, the induction of autophagy and apoptosis, and disruption of viral replication, through simultaneous inhibition of three sphingolipid-metabolizing enzymes in human cells (SPHK2, DES1 and GCS).

Opaganib has been selected for evaluation by two U.S. government countermeasures programs for Acute Radiation Syndrome (ARS) and Sulfur Mustard exposure.

Price Action: RDHL stock is up 28.8% at $0.37 during the premarket session at last check Monday.

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