MitoRx Therapeutics Presents Exciting New Data Showing Weight Loss With Muscle Preservation for Novel Small Molecule Myo4 Targeting Obesity

MitoRx Therapeutics Limited (MitoRx), today announces results for its novel small molecule Myo4 targeting obesity. In the diet induced obesity (DIO) mouse model, Myo4 reduced weight while preserving muscle and bone mineral content. These results are being presented by MitoRx’s co-founder, Professor Matt Whiteman, at the 32nd European Congress on Obesity. 

The presentation is entitled: ‘The novel small molecule Myo4 normalises glycemic control, reduces weight/fat mass and prevents semaglutide-induced muscle remodeling in the murine diet-induced obesity model’. The effect was seen with Myo4 as monotherapy. Myo4 also provided additional weight loss with muscle preservation when used in combination with semaglutide. The data also showed that Myo4 treated mice had better preserved bone mineral content compared to semaglutide treated animals. This is achieved by a novel mitochondrial metabolic mechanism of action. This therapeutic route is entirely separate from the current standard GLP-1 agonist treatment for obesity, which decreases muscle as well as fat. 

There are currently nearly 890 million people living with obesity worldwide, with 1.6 billion adults with overweight based on body mass index (BMI) category. The global economic impact of obesity is expected to be over USD 4 trillion by 2035, and USD 18 trillion by 2060. 

“These preclinical results confirm that the small molecule Myo4 has the potential to maintain lean muscle mass whilst reducing fat. These data demonstrate the potential of Myo4 to vastly increase the quality of weight loss over current GLP-1 options,” said Xavier Jacq, CSO, MitoRx. “This will enable MitoRx to move towards clinical preparation for Myo4 and develop a viable solution for obesity patients with greatly reduced side effects.” 

“GLP-1 treatments have revolutionized the treatment of obesity, but they are not without their drawbacks,” said Jon Rees, CEO, MitoRx. “With its entirely new mechanism of action, MitoRx’s discovery of Myo4 provides a new solution addressing the underlying cause of metabolic disease with the potential to lead the next generation of improved treatments for weight loss leading to better health.”