AVEO Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (AVEO)

[Doctor Detroit]

Bimagrumab (BYM338) is Novartis’ ActRIIA and ActRIIB inhibitor, currently undergoing clinical trials for sarcopenia. It is promising, but it has struggled in the clinic. I think the Cell.com article shows that Novartis has found BYM338 prevents loss of lean body mass, but does not prevent anorexia in sarcopenia…it requires a GDF15 inhibitor to prevent anorexia. Aveo’s Av-380 (licensed to Novartis) is a first in class GDF15 antibody. I think we will see more on this in 2018...

"Appetite reduction and muscle loss are all symptoms of the frailty of old age, marked by sarcopenia. The findings in this study suggest that in settings in which elevated levels of GDF11 are observable, restoration of appetite and weight gain may be relieved by inhibition of GDF15, but full inhibition of cachexia—loss of muscle, in addition to loss of appetite— requires blockade of the GDF11 receptor system, such as by inhibiting ActRIIA and ActRIIB"

Mice with Av-380 alone did not lose weight, but lost lean muscle mass.

Mice with BYM338 alone did not lose lean muscle mass, but lost weight.