Metacrine Collaborates on FGF1 Variants for Glucose Lowering, Insulin Sensitivity

Metacrine has entered a collaboration with Novo Nordisk A/S to develop Fibroblast Growth Factor 1 (FGF1) variants for glucose lowering and insulin sensitization.

Metacrine began work on FGF1 following a 2014 seminal study published in the journal Nature, which demonstrated the ability of FGF1 to lower glucose and improve insulin sensitivity in preclinical diabetes models. Metacrine has made significant progress with protein engineering work to improve the pharmaceutical properties of FGF1.

"We are very pleased to be working with Novo Nordisk, a clear global leader in diabetes and diabetes-related disease complications," said Ken Song, MD, President and CEO of Metacrine. "Combining the knowledge and experience of Novo Nordisk with Metacrine's capabilities ensures an ideal path forward for the FGF1 program, with the opportunity to develop a first-in-class therapeutic to treat patients who have diabetes and other conditions related to insulin resistance."

Under the terms of the agreement, Metacrine will continue to be responsible for certain research activities to further develop and characterize novel FGF1 variants. Novo Nordisk will have an option to license the FGF1 program upon achievement of certain research milestones. Financial terms were not disclosed.