Menlo Park, Calif.– OrsoBio, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on treatments for obesity and related metabolic disorders, has presented new preclinical data at the 85th Scientific Sessions of the American Diabetes Association (ADA) in Chicago. The findings support the potential of the company’s mitochondrial protonophore drug candidates, TLC-6740 and TLC-1180, to promote weight loss while preserving lean body mass—both as standalone therapies and in combination with incretin-based drugs.
The studies, conducted in diet-induced obese (DIO) mice, showed that both TLC-6740 and TLC-1180 significantly reduced body weight and improved glycemic control. Importantly, these compounds were effective without the loss of muscle mass often associated with existing obesity medications. When used alongside semaglutide, a GLP-1 receptor agonist, the protonophores demonstrated additive effects, suggesting a potential role in both the induction and maintenance phases of weight loss therapy.
Dr. Mani Subramanian, Chief Executive Officer of OrsoBio, said the results align with the company’s goal of offering new, orally available treatments that not only drive fat loss but also support long-term cardiometabolic health. He explained that mitochondrial protonophores work by increasing energy expenditure, providing a mechanism that complements the appetite-suppressing effects of incretin-based therapies.
OrsoBio’s research comes at a time of growing interest in next-generation obesity drugs that can address the limitations of GLP-1 therapies, such as gastrointestinal side effects and muscle loss. According to Dr. Rob Myers, the company’s Chief Medical Officer, the preclinical data suggest that OrsoBio’s candidates can help maintain metabolic benefits even after GLP-1 therapy is discontinued. He noted that the company’s ongoing Phase 1b trial is already evaluating TLC-6740 in combination with tirzepatide, another leading incretin-based treatment.
In addition to its protonophore portfolio, OrsoBio is also developing TLC-3595, a selective ACC2 inhibitor intended to enhance fat oxidation. The company is advancing multiple programs that target obesity through distinct, synergistic mechanisms aimed at sustaining fat loss, preserving muscle mass, and improving overall metabolic health.
