MetaVia, a clinical-stage biotech focused on cardiometabolic disease, has reported striking results from an extended eight-week Phase 1 study of its novel dual agonist, DA-1726, targeting obesity. 

 

The study demonstrates robust early weight loss, significant waist reduction, improved glucose control, and reduced liver stiffness, all with a favorable safety profile.

 

Fasting glucose improved by 12.3 mg/dL, while liver stiffness dropped 23.7%, signaling a direct hepatic benefit. Importantly, there were no treatment-related discontinuations, and gastrointestinal events were mild to moderate.

 

"Extending DA-1726 administration to a full eight weeks at the non-titrated 48 mg dose has provided us with extremely encouraging insights," said Hyung Heon Kim, president and CEO of MetaVia. 

 

"Patients in this cohort achieved a statistically significant 6.1% weight loss by Day 26 and 9.1% by Day 54, along with reductions in waist circumference of 5.8 cm and 9.8 cm at those same time points. We believe the statistically significant waist reductions reflect the glucagon component of DA-1726, which may contribute to deeper visceral fat loss than GLP-1 agonists alone. Combined with a favorable tolerability profile with no treatment-related discontinuations, these results highlight DA-1726's differentiated potential to be a best-in-class treatment option."

 

The study also showed metabolic improvements. "We also observed meaningful metabolic improvements, including a 12.3 mg/dL reduction in fasted glucose and early HbA1c benefits, such as a drop from 6.0% to 5.5% by day 54, in a prediabetic subject," Kim noted. 

 

"These findings are especially important because the vast majority of people with obesity—ranging from 70% to 80%—have diabetes or prediabetes, and diabetic patients typically receive broader insurance coverage for anti-obesity therapies. 

 

"DA-1726 has the potential to be the most effective GLP-1/glucagon dual agonist in development that has demonstrated glucose lowering without elevations, which may offer both clinical and reimbursement advantages. 

 

"Because VCTE is the leading noninvasive tool for liver stiffness assessment and is recognized by the FDA as a biomarker in MASH development, seeing a 23.7% reduction in only eight weeks underscores the hepatic potential of DA-1726. Taken together, the data reinforce our view that DA-1726 has best-in-class potential, delivering a compelling balance of weight loss, metabolic improvement, direct hepatic benefit, and tolerability as we advance toward later-stage development."

 

Looking ahead, MetaVia plans 16-week titration studies, including a single-step 48 mg regimen and a two-step 64 mg regimen. "We believe this represents a key competitive advantage. With results expected in the fourth quarter of 2026, we are well positioned to unlock further value creation as we continue advancing DA-1726 toward later-stage development," Kim said.

 

The Phase 1 trial was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study in obese adults (BMI 30–45 kg/m²), assessing the safety, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics of DA-1726. 

 

Nine participants per cohort were randomized in a 6:3 ratio, receiving either four or eight weekly administrations of DA-1726 or placebo. Secondary and exploratory endpoints included metabolic parameters, cardiac markers, body weight, waist circumference, BMI, and lipid levels.