Arecor Therapeutics PLC (AIM:AREC) has entered a development partnership with Skye Bioscience Inc (NASDAQ:SKYE), a US-based biotechnology group, to create a more concentrated formulation of an experimental obesity treatment, as drugmakers vie for a share of the fast-growing weight-loss market.
The Cambridge-based company will use its proprietary Arestat technology to reformulate nimacimab, a monoclonal antibody developed by Skye that targets the CB1 receptor.
The aim is to enhance the drug’s properties, potentially improving convenience for patients by reducing the volume or frequency of doses.
Nimacimab is currently being assessed in a phase IIa trial involving people who are overweight or living with obesity. Interim results from the 26-week treatment period are expected later this year.
Under the agreement, Skye will cover the cost of the development work. It will also have the option to license the rights to the new formulation and associated intellectual property for further development and commercial use.
Unlike widely used GLP-1-based therapies, nimacimab works by blocking CB1, a receptor involved in appetite control and energy balance.
The approach is not without precedent; earlier CB1 inhibitors have faced setbacks due to safety concerns, but Skye is seeking to differentiate its antibody-based treatment.
For Arecor, the collaboration extends the use of its Arestat platform, which is designed to improve the formulation and stability of complex injectable medicines. The company has signed multiple partnerships in recent years as it positions itself as a specialist in drug reformulation.
"This collaboration highlights the strength of our proprietary Arestat technology in enabling the development of enhanced therapeutic products that can improve patient outcomes and supports our strategy of bringing innovative medicines to market that address significant unmet patient needs in high-value markets," said Arecor CEO Sarah Howell.
"We have entered 2025 with significant momentum and this marks the third formulation development collaboration to be established by Arecor with partner companies so far this year.
"Together these have a total pre-license deal value in excess of £1 million, and provide Arecor with significant upside potential from future licensing opportunities."