Palatin Announces Positive Preclinical Efficacy Data for Oral MC4R Agonist PL7737 in Animal Model of Obesity

Core Insights - Palatin Technologies, Inc. announced strong preclinical results for PL7737, an oral selective melanocortin-4 receptor (MC4R) agonist, demonstrating effectiveness in rodent models of obesity [1][2] - The company plans to initiate a Phase 1 clinical trial for PL7737 in late 2025, with data expected in the first half of 2026 [2][5] Group 1: Preclinical Study Results - The preclinical study evaluated the weight loss effects of PL7737 in a diet-induced obese rat model, showing statistically significant weight loss after 4 days of treatment [2] - PL7737 monotherapy resulted in a 5% weight loss at the middle dose and 10% at the high dose, while the combination with tirzepatide led to an 11% and 15% weight loss, respectively [6] Group 2: Mechanism and Pipeline - MC4R agonists, like PL7737, offer a unique mechanism of action for obesity treatment, differing from incretin-based therapies [2] - Palatin is developing a pipeline of novel MC4R agonists, including both oral and long-acting peptide candidates, targeting general obesity and rare forms of the disease [2][9] Group 3: Regulatory and Market Potential - The FDA granted orphan drug designation to PL7737 for treating leptin receptor deficiency-related obesity, a rare genetic disorder [2] - There are currently no approved pharmacologic treatments specifically indicated for hypothalamic obesity, highlighting a significant unmet medical need [7]