Amylyx Steps Outside Neurodegenerative Disease With New Late-Stage Asset

The company outlined plans to develop newly acquired GLP-1 antagonist avexitide. CEOs Joshua Cohen and Justin Klee talked to Scrip about the strategy.

Amylyx is rebuilding, adding a new asset • Source: Shutterstock

Amylyx Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is rebuilding after a major setback earlier this year when its sole commercial drug, Relyvrio (sodium phenylbutyrate/taurursodiol) for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), was removed from the market due to lack of efficacy.

Key Takeaways
  • Amylyx acquired the GLP-1 antagonist avexitide from Eiger, which it plans to move into Phase III testing for post-bariatric hypoglycemia early next year.
  • Avexitide broadens the company’s pipeline outside of neurodegenerative disease for the first time

Now, the company has a new late-stage asset to focus on, a potential first-in-class glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) antagonist avexitide, acquired from Eiger BioPharmaceuticals, Inc. for around $35.1m. (Also see "Deal Watch: Lilly Partners With OpenAI On Drug-Resistant Pathogens" - Scrip, 25 June, 2024.) The acquisition closed on 10 July and the company outlined development plans to investors

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