Core Viewpoint - HitGen Inc. celebrates the initiation of a Phase 1 clinical study of BGE-102, a novel NLRP3 inhibitor developed in collaboration with BioAge Labs, which triggers a milestone payment to HitGen under their partnership agreement [1][6]. Group 1: Product Development - BGE-102 is an orally available small molecule NLRP3 inhibitor designed for obesity treatment, targeting age-related inflammation linked to various diseases [2][7]. - The compound was developed from hit compounds identified through HitGen's DNA-encoded library (DEL) technology, showcasing the effectiveness of this platform in drug discovery [3][6]. Group 2: Collaboration and Milestones - The collaboration between HitGen and BioAge began with the identification of promising hit molecules in April 2021, leading to joint patent filings and further research publications [3][4]. - The advancement of BGE-102 into clinical studies validates HitGen's DEL platform and emphasizes the value of their partnership model [4][6]. Group 3: Company Overview - HitGen Inc. is a drug discovery research company based in Chengdu, China, with advanced technology platforms for small molecule and nucleic acid-based drug discovery [5]. - The company has established collaborations with numerous biopharmaceutical organizations globally, supporting various drug discovery projects from early stages to clinical trials [5].