EraCal Therapeutics enters into research collaboration with Novo Nordisk

Central nervous system (CNS) controlled behavior such as food intake is notoriously difficult to explore in vitro. EraCal’s technology, which utilises their zebrafish larvae platform to find small molecule appetite suppressors, offers an alternative approach with a custom-built platform technology that measures complex phenotypes such as food intake at a large scale in an intact, living organism.

Consequently, in vivo bioavailability and toxicity are part of the initial screening phase, as is the counter-screening for undesirable CNS-side effects. Both are platform design features enabling the identification of more specific hit molecules in-vivo. EraCal’s peer-reviewed study showed the feasibility and translational validation of the phenotypic platform for formally approved drugs and new classes of small molecules. EraCal's lead molecule originating from the zebrafish platform is Era-379, an oral-active appetite suppressor. Era-379 clinical candidate selection is expected in this year. 

Simultaneously with the development of their own small molecule therapies, EraCal has now entered into a research collaboration with Novo Nordisk. The goal is to find novel drug targets relevant for food intake regulation and additional metabolic phenotypes. Under the joint research plan, EraCal and Novo Nordisk will investigate novel peptides for their potential as anti-obesity pharmacotherapy. This will be done using EraCal's zebrafish platform allowing insights into the signaling pathways of potential new targets underlying the control of metabolic health.

According to Josua Jordi, Eracal’s CEO and co-founder, Novo Nodisk selected EraCal because of its ability to screen more than 10’000 novel peptide sequences for the impact on food intake. Through the collaboration a big pharma company and a leader in the obesity field has started to implement the same research strategy to find novel biology and novel active peptides i.e. potential future drug candidates as EraCal did with small molecules. "The expansion to a second drug modality with EraCal’s technology opens new opportunities, and ambitions to add in even more modalities in the future", explains Josua Jordi. 

Kirsten Raun, Scientific Vice President, Global Obesity and LD Research, Novo Nordisk A/S expresses her enthusiasm about this new collaboration, “The zebrafish platform offers a unique opportunity for unbiased, high-throughput phenotypic screening of human-relevant peptide and small molecule libraries stemming from our drug discovery efforts within obesity.”

(Press release/RAN)