Neurocrine Biosciences has started a Phase I trial of NBIP-'1968, a long-acting triple agonist that targets GLP-1, GIP and glucagon receptors, to evaluate safety and tolerability in adults who are overweight or obese. The single ascending dose study will test once-weekly subcutaneous dosing and seeks to balance glucagon activity to support tolerability while enhancing metabolic benefits. NBIP-'1968 is being developed for a fixed-dose combination with NBIP-'2118 (a CRF2 agonist) as part of Neurocrine's wider obesity programme.
Neurocrine Launches Phase I Trial of NBIP-'1968, a Once-Weekly Triple Agonist for Obesity
Obesity is associated with a range of serious health conditions. Credit: Andrey_Popov / Shutterstock.com.
Neurocrine Biosciences has launched a Phase I clinical trial to evaluate NBIP-'1968, an investigational long-acting triple agonist that targets glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) and glucagon receptors as a potential treatment for obesity.
About the Trial
The first-in-human study will investigate the safety and tolerability of single ascending doses of NBIP-'1968 in adults who are overweight or living with obesity. The trial aims to define the compound’s safety profile and tolerability when administered as a once-weekly subcutaneous injection.
Mechanism And Design Considerations
NBIP-'1968 is engineered to engage three complementary metabolic pathways—GLP-1, GIP and glucagon receptors—with the goal of influencing appetite regulation, energy balance and glycaemic control. Neurocrine says the molecule's design incorporates balanced glucagon receptor activity to support tolerability while attempting to maximise beneficial metabolic effects.
Combination Strategy And Development Programme
The candidate emerged from Neurocrine’s internal research and is part of a broader obesity-development programme. Neurocrine plans to develop NBIP-'1968 for use in a fixed-dose combination with NBIP-'2118, a corticotropin-releasing factor type 2 (CRF2) receptor agonist that is also in Phase I testing. Additional studies are under way to explore other mechanisms of action and longer dosing regimens.
Sanjay Keswani, Chief Medical Officer: 'Obesity is a complex chronic disease driven by multiple biological pathways, underscoring the need for additional treatment options. NBIP-\'1968 is designed to engage three complementary metabolic mechanisms, reflecting our commitment to exploring multiple scientific approaches to obesity.'
Clinical Context
The company noted the high clinical need for new obesity therapies given the condition’s association with serious comorbidities such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, sleep apnoea, certain cancers, osteoarthritis and metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease.
Separately, earlier this year Neurocrine initiated a Phase II trial of NBI-1065890, a selective vesicular monoamine transporter 2 (VMAT2) inhibitor, in adults with tardive dyskinesia.
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