GAITHERSBURG, Md., June 22, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Altimmune, Inc. (Nasdaq: NASDAQ:), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, today presented data on the effect of pemvidutide, its dual GLP-1/glucagon receptor agonist candidate in development for obesity and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), on cardioinflammatory lipids at the 84th Scientific Session of the American Diabetes Association (ADA).
Dyslipidemia is one of the most important comorbidities of obesity, affecting up to 70% of patients with obesity, said Vipin K. Garg, Ph.D., president and CEO of Altimmune. These data add to the differentiated profile of pemvidutide and reinforce its potential to reduce inflammatory lipids associated with cardiovascular plaque formation and cardiovascular risk in patients with obesity.
Dysregulated lipid profiles in obesity can cause systemic inflammation and elevate the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). To better understand the potential impact of pemvidutide on lipoprotein and glycoprotein biomarkers of cardiovascular disease inflammation, samples were analyzed from the 12-week, randomized, placebo-controlled Phase 1 study of pemvidutide in subjects with overweight or obese, but not with type 2 diabetes. In the study, 34 subjects were randomly assigned 1:1:1:1 to pemvidutide (1.2 mg, 1.8 mg, and 2.4 mg) or placebo administered once a week subcutaneously for 12 weeks. Lipidomic, lipoparticle, and glycoprotein profiles were performed using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography, mass spectrometry, and proton nuclear magnetic resonance in plasma samples at baseline and after 12 weeks of treatment.
Serum lipids, including total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and triglycerides, were reduced by 28%, 26%, and 38%, respectively. Reductions in each class of these lipids did not correlate with weight loss, suggesting that the lipid effects were due to the direct impact of pemvidutide on lipid metabolism. A detailed analysis showed that pemvidutide significantly reduced small dense LDL-C, more highly saturated short-chain diglycerides, lysophosphatidylinositols, lysophosphatidylcholines, and sphingolipids, all lipids with a strong association with CVD. Reductions were also observed in GlycA and GlycB, biomarkers of systemic inflammation known to correlate with heart failure. In addition to reductions in weight and serum lipids, pemvidutide treatment resulted in reductions in systolic and diastolic blood pressure in all dose groups, suggesting that pemvidutide may have pleiotropic effects that may contribute to a decrease in risk of CVD.
About pemvidutide
Pemvidutide is a novel, investigational, peptide-based dual GLP-1/glucagon receptor agonist in development for the treatment of obesity and MASH. Activation of GLP-1 and glucagon receptors is thought to mimic the complementary effects of diet and exercise on weight loss: GLP-1 suppresses appetite and glucagon increases energy expenditure. Glucagon is also recognized to have direct effects on hepatic fat metabolism, which is thought to lead to rapid reductions in hepatic fat and serum lipid levels. In clinical trials to date, once-weekly pemvidutide has demonstrated convincing weight loss, significant reductions in triglycerides, LDL cholesterol, liver fat content, and blood pressure. The US FDA has granted Fast Track designation to pemvidutide for the treatment of MASH. Pemvidutide recently completed the Phase 2 MOMENTUM obesity trial and is being studied in the ongoing Phase 2b IMPACT MASH trial.
About Altimmune
Altimmune is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of innovative next-generation peptide-based therapies. The company is developing pemvidutide, a dual GLP-1/glucagon receptor agonist for the treatment of obesity and MASH. For more information, visit www.altimmune.com.
Forward-looking statement
Any statements made in this press release relating to future financial or business performance, conditions, plans, prospects, trends or strategies and other financial and business matters, including, but not limited to, the timing of key milestones for our clinical assets and the outlook for the usefulness of, regulatory approval, commercialization or sale of any product or drug candidate are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Additionally, when or if used in this press release , the words may, could, should, anticipate, believe, estimate, expect, intend, plan, predict and similar expressions and their variants, as they relate to Altimmune, Inc. may identify forward-looking statements. The Company cautions that these forward-looking statements are subject to numerous assumptions, risks and uncertainties that change over time. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the results discussed in forward-looking statements or historical experience include risks and uncertainties, including risks related to: delays in regulatory review, manufacturing and supply chain disruptions, access to clinical sites, enrollment, adverse effects on health systems, and disruptions to the global economy; the reliability of study results relating to human safety and potential adverse effects resulting from administration of the Company’s product candidates; the Company’s ability to manufacture clinical trial materials on schedule; and the success of future product advancements, including the success of future clinical trials. More information about factors and risks that could affect the Company’s business, financial condition and results of operations is contained in the Company’s filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including under the heading Risk Factors in the Company’s most recent annual report on Form 10.-K and our other filings with the SEC, which are available at www.sec.gov.
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Company contact:
Richard Eisenstadt
CFO
Phone: 240-654-1450
ir@altimmune.com
Investor contacts:
Lee Roth
McClellan Burns
Phone: 646-382-3403
lroth@burnsmc.com
Julia Weilman
McClellan Burns
Phone: 646-732-4443
jweilman@burnsmc.com
Media Contact:
Danielle Cantey
Home Evoke, Biotechnology
Phone: 619-826-4657
Danielle.cantey@inizioevoke.com
Source: Altimmune, Inc.