Metsera has revealed promising results for its GLP-1 drug candidate, MET-097i, showing up to 11.3% weight loss after 12 weeks of treatment. Encouraged by these findings, the biotech company plans to use some of its $215 million in funding to explore the possibility of monthly dosing for this injectable therapy.
Founded by Population Health Partners and Arch Venture Partners, Metsera faces stiff competition from Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk, which have dominated the injectable weight loss market with products like Wegovy and Zepbound. Despite the competition, Metsera believes it has found a niche with its potential long-acting alternative.
MET-097i is Metsera’s solution to compete in this growing market. The company tested the drug in a Phase 2a trial, involving 100 patients who received one of five different MET-097i regimens. An additional 20 patients were given a placebo.
After 12 weeks of weekly dosing, the trial showed a placebo-adjusted weight loss of up to 11.3%. The highest weight loss was observed in patients who received a fixed dose of MET-097i. Those in the cohort with escalating doses, which increased to a 1.2 mg dose over eight weeks, experienced a mean placebo-adjusted weight loss of 6.3%.
While comparing results across GLP-1 trials can be tricky due to differences in dosing methods and patient selection—Metsera’s trial, for example, excluded people with Type 2 diabetes—the company’s results are comparable to those of Wegovy and Zepbound.
Metsera found that while weight loss was lower in patients whose doses were gradually increased, the drug was well tolerated overall. The escalation cohort saw mild, temporary side effects, including one case of nausea and two cases of vomiting in 20 patients. Most gastrointestinal issues were short-lived and mild to moderate in severity.
To explore the potential for a monthly dosing regimen, patients in the trial switched to a higher dose at Week 13. Metsera found that this switch was well tolerated. The company plans to launch a new trial later this year to further investigate the possibility of monthly dosing. In comparison, Wegovy and Zepbound are currently administered weekly.
In addition to the monthly dosing trial, Metsera has several other ongoing and upcoming MET-097i studies. A Phase 2b trial for individuals with obesity or overweight is fully enrolled and is expected to produce results by mid-2025. Additional trials are planned to assess MET-097i in people with obesity, those who are overweight, and those with Type 2 diabetes. These studies are designed to support a potential move into Phase 3 trials.
Metsera secured significant funding to support its research and development efforts last November. Wellington Management and Venrock Healthcare Capital Partners led a $215 million Series B investment round, which added to the $322 million the company had raised previously.
