Core Insights - Hoth Therapeutics Inc. has revealed promising preclinical data on glial cell-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) for obesity and metabolic-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), supported by the U.S. Veterans Administration [1][3] - GDNF has shown superior efficacy compared to semaglutide in key metrics such as weight stabilization, glucose tolerance, liver weight reduction, and adipose tissue control, particularly in female models [2][5] - The obesity market is valued at $200 billion, and GDNF's differentiated mechanism may address limitations of current GLP-1 agonists, potentially revolutionizing treatment paradigms for over 1 billion people affected by obesity and 30% of adults impacted by MASLD [3] Study Highlights - In female mice on a high-fat diet, GDNF reduced weight gain by 10-15%, leading to a plateau in weight during treatment, while semaglutide showed no significant impact [4] - GDNF normalized fasting glucose levels and improved glucose response, outperforming semaglutide in females, with additional benefits observed in males [5] - GDNF reduced liver weight by 20-30% and prevented adipose tissue accumulation in females, surpassing the effects of semaglutide [5] Future Directions - Future analyses will focus on liver pathology, lipid content, and gene/protein expression to further understand GDNF's mechanisms [6] - Hoth plans to accelerate GDNF towards IND-enabling studies, with clinical trials targeted for 2027 [6] - Hoth's pipeline includes other programs such as HT-001 for cancer-related skin toxicities, HT-KIT for mast cell cancers, and HT-ALZ for Alzheimer's [6] Market Reaction - Hoth Therapeutics shares increased by 1.83% to $0.87 during premarket trading [8]