BioAge Labs Reenters Obesity Market with New APJ Agonist Deal

BioAge Labs, a Bay Area biotech company, has signaled its renewed commitment to the weight loss market by entering an option agreement with Chinese firm JiKang Therapeutics. This strategic move comes in the wake of BioAge's earlier setback with its lead obesity candidate.

New Partnership and Patent Filing

BioAge has secured an option to license a novel apelin receptor (APJ) agonist nanobody from JiKang Therapeutics. Concurrent with this agreement, BioAge has filed a provisional patent application covering a new class of internally developed APJ agonist molecules.

The collaboration will see BioAge and JiKang working together to advance the nanobody to the cusp of investigational new drug (IND)-enabling studies. Should BioAge exercise its option, it will assume responsibility for global development and commercialization of the asset.

Financial terms of the deal include an undisclosed upfront payment and research funding to JiKang, with the potential for future milestone payments and tiered royalties based on development, regulatory, and sales achievements.

Dual Approach to APJ Agonism

BioAge is pursuing a two-pronged strategy in its APJ agonist program, developing both oral and subcutaneous formulations. The company aims to file an IND application for one of its APJ program candidates in 2026.

Kristen Fortney, Ph.D., BioAge's co-founder and CEO, emphasized the importance of this approach: "Our preclinical data show that APJ agonism can amplify GLP-1–driven weight loss; by developing a long-acting injectable and an all-oral combination option in parallel, we aim to match diverse dosing preferences while driving greater efficacy and better body-composition outcomes."

Recovering from Previous Setback

This new initiative follows BioAge's January decision to discontinue azelaprag, its first APJ agonist, due to elevated liver enzyme levels observed in a phase 2 trial. The trial was halted in December 2024, shortly after the company's $198 million Nasdaq debut.

In response to this setback, BioAge pivoted to focus on BGE-102, an NLRP3 inhibitor targeting neuroinflammation. The company expects to file an IND application for BGE-102 in mid-2025, with phase 1 single-ascending-dose data anticipated by year-end.