Metabolic says obesity drug has potential in osteoporosis

Metabolic Pharmaceuticals' (ASX:MBP) obesity drug AOD9604 could potentially have a new indication for use in osteoporosis, the company has claimed.

Data from a study with daily oral administration of AOD9604 in about 90 rats has shown an effect in preventing bone loss and maintaining bone quality, indicating that the drug may be useful in the prevention of osteoporosis, in a similar way to oestrogen and bisphosphonates.

"A possible additional indication means we have another valuable drug in our pipeline that could have quite an accelerated development pathway," said Metabolic CEO Roland Scollay. "Much of the knowledge gained for the primary indication, such as safety profiles, manufacturing, formulation and drug stability could be used to support the new indication."

The study was conducted by a team of scientists under Dr Marc Grynpas at the Samuel Lunenfeld Research Institute of Mount Sinai Hospital (New York) affiliated with the University of Toronto. The result confirms a study conducted in 2002 at the same site where AOD9604 was injected at a slightly higher dose.

The rat model of osteoporosis simulates menopausal oestrogen loss in retired female breeder rats by surgically removing the ovaries. This results in substantial fat gain and loss of bone quality and strength.

Metabolic said that groups of 10-15 rats treated with 0.25 mg/kg/day and 0.5 mg/kg/day of AOD9604 over 12 weeks, not only saw statistically significant reduced weight gain when compared to untreated controls but also statistically significant prevention of loss of bone mass and bone strength in cortical bone.

Metabolic is now planning additional animal studies to learn more about the effects of AOD9604 on bone. "We would expect some fairly quick animal studies before committing this drug to clinical development," said Scollay.