Kalohexis has dosed the first patients in its Phase I first-in-human clinical trial of 710GO, an oral dual melanocortin-3 receptor/melanocortin-4 receptor (MC3R/MC4R) agonist for general obesity treatment.
The randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial includes single-ascending dose, 28-day multiple-ascending dose, and food effect components.
Being conducted in Australia, it is expected to recruit around 100 obese or healthy overweight volunteers.
The study aims to evaluate 710GO's pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics, preliminary efficacy, safety and tolerability.
In preclinical assessments, including studies in non-human primates, 710GO’s unique mechanism produced consistent weight loss without side effects often seen with GLP-1 receptor agonists.
These included minimal loss of lean body mass, limited gastrointestinal issues, and less rapid weight regain after stopping treatment. Data indicate its use as a standalone therapy or in combination with other anti-obesity drugs.
In previous non-human primate models with diet-induced obesity, daily oral 710GO doses yielded 11.7% body weight reduction over 13 weeks, with weight loss driven mainly by decreased fat mass.
The compound was well tolerated, with no significant gastrointestinal or cardiovascular adverse events. When used alongside semaglutide, results showed further weight reductions compared to monotherapy.
710GO is designed to activate the melanocortin system for more sustainable weight loss.
Kalohexis CEO Russell Potterfield said: “Dosing the first cohort of patients marks a major milestone for Kalohexis and the development of 710GO, our lead obesity asset with the potential to overcome the limitations of current standard of care treatment for general obesity.
“The melanocortin system is the body's natural regulator of metabolic homeostasis, and 710GO is a novel peptide that activates both MC3R/MC4R to establish a new metabolic set point for the body to actively maintain. 710GO is a convenient oral therapy and represents a differentiated treatment option for general obesity with the potential to enable healthier, more durable weight loss.”
