Versant’s Innovative Startup Aims to Develop a Novel Obesity Treatment
The biotech firm Versant Ventures has initiated a new venture called Pep2Tango Therapeutics, which aims to integrate four distinct treatment methods for obesity into a single pharmaceutical solution.
Pep2Tango recently emerged from stealth mode, announcing its launch alongside an undisclosed venture capital investment in the “double-digit” millions, according to Carlo Rizzuto, managing director at Versant. Rizzuto did not share additional details, as Pep2Tango is currently engaging with various prospective partners regarding potential deals, he mentioned in a conversation with BioPharma Dive.
Stepping into a highly competitive sector of drug development, Pep2Tango enters amid significant demand for obesity treatments like Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy and Eli Lilly’s Zepbound. Analysts on Wall Street project a market potential that could soar to 0 billion over the next ten years. This promising opportunity has prompted a rush among numerous pharmaceutical companies seeking to enhance the efficacy of existing offerings.
Several organizations are exploring issues, such as the muscle mass reduction associated with GLP-1 medications like Wegovy and Zepbound. Others are focused on providing more user-friendly pill formats or developing alternative mechanisms or combinations of drugs that might offer better tolerance, longevity, or weight loss results. For instance, Lilly is testing a medication that influences three gut hormones.
Pep2Tango, however, posits that it is advancing the research frontier. The therapies in development are designed to simultaneously activate four distinct targets related to weight regulation: GLP-1, GIP, amylin, and calcitonin receptors. Early studies suggest that Pep2Tango’s compounds may surpass the effectiveness of tirzepatide—the key ingredient in Zepbound—by promoting selective fat loss while maintaining muscle mass.
According to Cristina Rondinone, Pep2Tango’s CEO, this combination therapy could also lead to benefits like reduced production expenses and enhanced patient adherence, both crucial challenges facing current obesity treatments.
“Initially, we aimed to create a tetra-agonist,” she revealed. “In truth, we were unexcited to consider just a mono agonist, dual agonist, or triple.”
This venture is not Versant’s first engagement in the arena of obesity treatment. Earlier in the year, Versant introduced SixPeaks Bio, alongside a potential future sale to AstraZeneca. SixPeaks concentrates on therapies designed to maintain muscle mass by targeting specific activin receptors.
“With Pep2Tango, we are clearly taking a first-in-class approach,” Rizzuto noted. “Yet, we are also pursuing investments that aim for best-in-class solutions, with SixPeaks serving as a representative example.”
Rondinone has previously governed cardiometabolic drug development at AstraZeneca before taking on the role of president at Cellarity. Pep2Tango’s Chief Scientific Officer, Soumitra Ghosh, previously led research and development at Amylin Pharmaceuticals, known for creating GLP-1 medications for diabetes.
The name Pep2Tango signifies both the peptide drugs and the concept that “a partnership is vital,” as described by Rondinone. She associates the tango, a symbolic dance of Argentina—her homeland—with her dedication to creating exceptional obesity treatments.
“Addressing this issue cannot rely on a single molecular target or mechanism; we believe a multifaceted approach is necessary,” Rondinone emphasized.