NeuroBo Pharmaceuticals changes name to MetaVia

NeuroBo Pharmaceuticals, a subsidiary of Dong-A ST, will change its name to MetaVia on Nov. 29.

MetaVia is a combination of the words “meta” for cardiometabolic and “via” for “through” to signify the company's commitment to contributing to human health through the treatment of cardiometabolic diseases.

Founded in 2017, NeuroBo Pharmaceuticals is focused on developing therapies for cardiometabolic diseases. The company has decided to change its name to reflect and strengthen its identity.

MetaVia is conducting a global phase 1 part 2 clinical trial of DA-1726 for obesity and a global phase 2 part 1 and 2 clinical trial of DA-1241 for metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH).

DA-1726 is a drug candidate in development for treating obesity in the oxyntomodulin analog class. It acts simultaneously at LP-1 and glucagon receptors to suppress appetite, stimulate insulin secretion, and increase basal metabolism in the periphery, ultimately leading to weight loss and glycemic control.

In October, DA-1726 demonstrated excellent safety and tolerability in a global phase 1 part 1 study. Global phase 1 part 2 is ongoing and clinical results are expected in the first quarter 2025.

DA-1241 is a first-in-class synthetic drug that activates GPR119. It is being developed to treat metabolic-associated steatohepatitis, where it has been shown in animal studies to improve glycemic and lipid profiles, as well as directly acting on the liver to reduce inflammation and fibrosis.

DA-1241 is in a global phase 2, part 1 and 2 study that is expected to conclude in the second half of this year.

“With the change of name to MetaVia, we have taken the final steps to become a specialized cardiometabolic disease drug development company,” MetaVia CEO Kim Hyung-heon said. “The clinical trials of our innovative obesity drug DA-1726 and MASH drug DA-1241 are on track to reach their goals.”