Our Lead Program Targets Human TAS2R1

Based on strong preclinical evidence, the human clinical experience, and identification of indications with high unmet medical needs; the company intends to develop an oral small molecule agonists of the human TAS2R1.  In pre-clinical studies in diet-induced obese mice, agonism of the mouse functional homolog to human TAS2R1 (mouse Tas2r108) modulated all three approaches to weight loss: (1) decreased energy intake (i.e., appetite suppression); (2) reduced energy uptake (i.e., impaired absorption); and (3) increased energy expenditure. 

Further, acute treatment, in a model of aged mice, significantly downregulated markers of senescence and senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP) (e.g., TNF, MMP-3, IL-6 and IL-1b) in visceral adipose tissue and kidney as well as increased the circulating level of glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1).