Therapeutics company announces partnership to combat animal obesity

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Akston Biosciences Corporation announced plans to develop a new companion animal obesity drug as part of a new strategic partnership with Energesis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. The partnership intends to manage obesity in companion animals by enhancing their natural ability to burn more calories and increase energy use, promoting healthy weight loss without the potential to rebound.¹

“Energesis and Akston share an appetite for innovation as we seek to develop an array of new, differentiated products to treat obesity in pets,” Todd Zion, PhD, president and CEO of Akston Biosciences, said in a news release.¹ “This partnership exemplifies Akston’s dedication to advancing the [American Veterinary Medical Association] One Health Initiative, reflecting our commitment to translational medicine. By integrating innovations across human and veterinary sciences, we aim to contribute to a healthier, more interconnected world where the well-being of people, animals, and the environment are seamlessly linked.”

The underlying technology to be used in the drug’s development leverages recent scientific insights in brown adipose tissue (BAT) biology, which is used to generate heat, burn calories, and reduce body fat without reducing muscle mass.¹ In the partnership, Akston receives the option to license Energesis’ biologic BAT recruitment therapy for companion animals. Akston will serve as a Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization (CDMO), developing and producing the therapeutic at its facility in Massachusetts.¹

“Partnering with Akston to further develop and manufacture our BAT Recruitment Therapy holds the promise of treating obesity in companion animals while bolstering a future for human therapies of the same kind,” explained Brian Freeman, MD, CEO of Energesis.¹ “[BAT] recruitment therapy is a major advance in the treatment of obesity. The current approaches, such as Ozempic, reduce appetite, and in doing so cause loss of needed muscle mass and a lowering of metabolic rate, leading to a rebound weight gain. Enhancing energy use, however, leads to a healthy weight loss without rebound. Given the great need for new approaches beyond appetite suppression in companion animals, we are very excited to partner with Akston to move this technology into the veterinary space.”

A 2022 survey conducted by the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention estimated 61% of cats and 59% of dogs in the US to be overweight or suffer from obesity.² In the same survey, 49% of pet owners reported having conversations with their veterinary professionals regarding their pet’s ideal weight.² Although many veterinary professionals may refrain from mentioning weight out of fear of making clients uncomfortable, two-thirds of surveyed pet owners said they neither feel embarrassed nor uncomfortable at the mention of their pet needing to lose weight. Results of the survey indicate that clients are interested in being told about their pet’s need for weight loss.² 

The agreement marks Akston’s second major strategic partnership announcement in the past month, complementing the company’s agreement with Purdue University to co-develop an anti-cPD-L1 monoclonal antibody immunotherapy to treat cancer in dogs.³ Their newest partner, Energesis Pharmaceuticals Inc., is a human biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering and developing drugs to treat obesity and related metabolic diseases. Their approach is built on targeting BAT, increasing rate at which the body burns stored fat, and lowering insulin resistance.¹

References

1. Energesis and Akston Biosciences Sign Partnership Agreement for Companion Animal Obesity Drug Development. News release. Akston Biosciences Organization. August 20, 2024. Accessed August 20, 2024. https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240820433433/en/Energesis-and-Akston-Biosciences-Sign-Partnership-Agreement-for-Companion-Animal-Obesity-Drug-Development
2. Association for Pet Obesity Prevention. State of U.S. Pet Obesity. 2022. Accessed August 20, 2024. https://www.petobesityprevention.org/2022
3. Littrell A. Animal therapeutics company names partner for oncology drug development. dvm360. August 15, 2024. Accessed August 20, 2024. https://www.dvm360.com/view/animal-therapeutics-company-names-partner-for-oncology-drug-development