BioAge deepens weight loss R&D with fresh apelin receptor push

4 June 2025

US biotech BioAge Labs (Nasdaq: BIOA) is expanding its obesity pipeline just months after shelving its lead drug in the category due to liver toxicity.

The California-based company has struck an option agreement with Chinese drugmaker JiKang Therapeutics to potentially license a new nanobody targeting the apelin receptor, while also progressing its own early-stage compounds in the same class.

BioAge disclosed the moves on Tuesday, alongside news that it has filed a provisional US patent application for a new class of apelin receptor agonists developed in-house. The company plans to advance both injectable and oral versions of the therapy, with a new drug filing targeted for 2026.

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