Zealand Pharma Announces First Subject Dosed in Phase 1 Trial of Amylin Analogue ZP8396 for the Treatment of Obesity


Zealand Pharma A/S recently announced the first patient has been dosed in a Phase 1 clinical trial evaluating the amylin analogue, ZP8396 as a potential treatment option in obesity. The study is a single ascending, dose-escalation, safety and tolerability trial in healthy volunteers.

“ZP8396 holds potential as a novel treatment option for obesity both as a monotherapy and in combination with other weight loss drugs, and the initiation of the Phase 1 clinical trial with ZP8396 is an important milestone for Zealand Pharma,” said Adam Steensberg, Executive Vice President and Chief Medical Officer at Zealand Pharma. “We remain committed to utilizing our innovative peptide platform to develop medicines with the aim of addressing unmet needs for people with obesity and associated metabolic conditions.”

The company recently presented preclinical data on ZP8396 at the Obesity Society Annual Meeting held online the week of November 1-5, 2021. The Phase 1, First-In-Human, randomized, single ascending dose trial, will assess safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics of ZP8396 administered to healthy subjects. Additional information about the Phase 1 ZP8396 trial is available via Clinicaltrials.gov (NCT NCT05096598).

ZP8396 is an investigational, potent long-acting amylin analogue designed to improve solubility, minimize fibrillation and allow for co-formulation with other peptides, including GLP-1 analogues. Amylin analogues hold potential as both mono and combination therapies for obesity. In preclinical studies ZP8936 has shown potent anti-obesity effects.

Zealand Pharma A/S (Nasdaq: ZEAL) is a biotechnology company focused on the discovery, development, and commercialization of peptide-based medicines. More than 10 drug candidates invented by Zealand have advanced into clinical development, of which two have reached the market. Zealand’s robust pipeline of investigational medicines includes three candidates in late-stage development. Zealand markets V-Go, a basal-bolus insulin delivery option for people with diabetes, and has received FDA approval for Zegalogue, (dasiglucagon), the first and only glucagon analogue for the treatment severe hypoglycemia in pediatric and adult patients with diabetes aged 6 and above. License collaborations with Boehringer Ingelheim and Alexion Pharmaceuticals create opportunity for more patients to potentially benefit from Zealand-invented peptide investigational agents currently in development.

Zealand was founded in 1998 in Copenhagen, Denmark, and has presence throughout the US that includes key locations in New York, Boston, and Marlborough (MA). For more information, visit http://www.zealandpharma.com.