Elevai Labs, a diversified holding company, subsidiary Elevai Biosciences announced the next steps in its regulatory strategy for EL-22, aimed at treating obesity and preserving muscle mass.
In collaboration with KCRN Research, Inc., the Company is preparing for a pre-IND meeting with the FDA, anticipated in the first quarter of 2025. This meeting will establish the development pathway for EL-22, clarifying any additional preclinical requirements and adjustments to Chemistry, Manufacturing, and Controls before IND submission.
EL-22 is an engineered probiotic designed to express myostatin on its surface, leveraging the myostatin pathway to support muscle health. Preclinical studies, including a 2022 study in mdx mice (a model of Duchenne muscular dystrophy), demonstrated significant physiological and functional improvements.1 EL-22 has also completed a Phase 1 clinical trial in South Korea, where it was shown to be generally well tolerated and safe in healthy volunteers.
“Regulatory precedent for myostatin-based therapies in combination with GLP-1 receptor agonists are promising,” said Deniel Mero, Co-founder of Elevai Biosciences. “Leveraging existing data from our Korean licensing partner, including human safety studies, provides a strong foundation to accelerate the IND process and subsequent U.S. clinical trials. We are excited about EL-22’s potential to redefine obesity care by combining effective weight loss with muscle preservation.”
Elevai aims to file the IND in 2025 and thereafter initiate clinical trials to evaluate the combination of EL-22 with GLP-1 receptor agonists for obesity treatment.
