Pila Pharma raises capital for new oral obesity therapy

The Swedish-Danish biotech Pila Pharma has raised almost 1.8 million euros in a capital increase. With the fresh capital, the company founded by researcher Dorte X. Gram aims to expand its clinical pipeline with an independent track for obesity studies.

The focus is on the drug candidate XEN-D0501, an oral TRPV1 inhibitor that differs from current GLP-1 therapies due to its novel mechanism of action and potentially more favorable side effect profile. Previous studies show a promising safety profile as well as effects on insulin secretion and heart health. Now, for the first time, the effect on weight reduction is to be specifically investigated.

Studies focused purely on obesity

Pila Pharma plans to initially carry out preclinical studies on weight reduction in rats, followed by a clinical study in overweight people without diabetes. In parallel, preparations are underway for a phase 2a study in type 2 diabetics with higher doses.

We want to create a clearly differentiated weight loss data package that will make us attractive for partnerships or an acquisition.

Gustav H. Gram, CEO Pila Pharma

Founder with Novo-Nordisk past and pioneer in semaglutide

Founder Dorte X. Gram, formerly a researcher at Novo Nordisk, once identified the molecule that later became semaglutide (now known as Ozempic and Wegovy). With XEN-D0501, she is now pursuing an alternative, anti-inflammatory route for the treatment of metabolic diseases with globally scalable potential.

With the new capital, we are initiating a completely new, separate and dedicated obesity track that has the potential to deliver very meaningful data.

Dorte X. Gram, Founder and Head of Research Pila Pharma

The combination of innovative mechanism of action, oral delivery and growing market interest in non-GLP-1 based therapies could put Pila Pharma in a strategically favorable position for future collaborations.