BioAge Labs Files for IPO with Focus on Anti-Aging Therapeutics and Metabolic Diseases
BioAge Labs, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company specializing in anti-aging and metabolic disease therapeutics, has filed for an initial public offering (IPO). The company is led by CEO Kristen Fortney and has secured Goldman Sachs as the lead underwriter, alongside Morgan Stanley, Jefferies, and Citigroup.
Company Overview and Technology Platform
BioAge Labs leverages its proprietary platform to develop therapeutics targeting the biology of human aging, with a primary focus on metabolic diseases such as obesity. The company's approach is rooted in analyzing extensive human datasets that capture longitudinal aging trajectories over several decades. This data-driven strategy enables the identification of biological pathways associated with healthier aging outcomes, which BioAge aims to modulate through pharmaceutical interventions.
BioAge's lead product candidate, azelaprag, is an orally available small molecule that activates the apelin receptor (APJ), a pathway linked to the beneficial effects of exercise. Azelaprag has been tested in eight Phase 1 clinical trials, demonstrating favorable tolerability in 265 participants and showing promise in preclinical models of obesity, where it enhanced weight loss and improved muscle function when combined with glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor (GLP-1R) agonists.
Clinical Development and Upcoming Trials
The company is advancing azelaprag through multiple clinical trials. In the ongoing STRIDES Phase 2 trial, azelaprag is being tested in combination with tirzepatide (marketed as Zepbound by Eli Lilly) in approximately 220 older adults with obesity. This trial aims to establish proof of concept for enhanced weight loss, with topline results expected in the third quarter of 2025. A second Phase 2 trial, set to begin in the first half of 2025, will evaluate azelaprag in combination with semaglutide (marketed as Wegovy by Novo Nordisk) in a broader population, aiming to achieve significant weight loss and improved body composition over 52 weeks.
Additionally, BioAge plans to initiate a proof-of-concept trial of azelaprag monotherapy in early 2025 to explore its potential benefits on insulin sensitivity, supporting potential expansion into type 2 diabetes treatment.
Expansion into Neuroinflammation
Beyond metabolic diseases, BioAge is also developing small molecule inhibitors of NLRP3, a target associated with neuroinflammation and linked to conditions such as obesity and neurodegenerative diseases. These brain-penetrant inhibitors are expected to enter Phase 1 trials by the first half of 2026, pending an Investigational New Drug (IND) application submission in the second half of 2025.
Market Potential and Strategic Focus
BioAge’s therapeutic focus addresses unmet needs in the treatment landscape for obesity and other metabolic conditions. The company aims to develop an all-oral combination product for obesity, targeting a market where the current reliance on injectables presents challenges related to patient preference, tolerability, and logistics.
From the filing: "According to third-party estimates, the global GLP-1R market across obesity and type 2 diabetes is expected to exceed $150 billion globally by 2031, largely driven by expansion of the obesity commercial potential."
Topics: Startups & Deals
