MetaVia Inc (Nasdaq: MTVA), a US-based clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on transforming cardiometabolic diseases, announced on Monday a research collaboration with Syntekabio Inc, a US-based artificial intelligence (AI)-driven drug discovery company, to identify additional disease targets and optimise the therapeutic profile of DA-1241, MetaVia's novel oral G-Protein-Coupled Receptor 119 (GPR119) agonist.

This collaboration follows positive results from MetaVia's 16-week, 109-subject Phase 2a study of DA-1241, which the company says demonstrated a favourable safety and tolerability profile alongside both hepatoprotective and glucose-regulating effects in presumed metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) patients.

DA-1241 is a novel G-Protein-Coupled Receptor 119 (GPR119) agonist with development optionality as a standalone and/or combination therapy for both MASH and type 2 diabetes (T2D). Agonism of GPR119 in the gut promotes the release of key gut peptides GLP-1, GIP and PYY. These peptides play a further role in glucose metabolism, lipid metabolism and weight loss.

DA-1241 has beneficial effects on glucose, lipid profile and liver inflammation, supported by potential efficacy demonstrated during in vivo preclinical studies. The therapeutic potential of DA-1241 has been demonstrated in multiple pre-clinical animal models of MASH and T2D where DA-1241 reduced hepatic steatosis, inflammation, fibrosis, and improved glucose control. Additionally, in Phase 1a, 1b and 2a trials, DA-1241 was well tolerated in both healthy volunteers and those with T2DM, and in a Phase 2a clinical study DA-1241 demonstrated direct hepatic action in addition to its glucose lowering effects.