Juvena Therapeutics has entered into a global licensing and research collaboration with Eli Lilly and Company (Lilly) to discover, develop, and commercialise drug candidates aimed at improving muscle health and body composition.
This partnership will see Juvena using its JuvNET platform, an artificial intelligence (AI)-driven screening system designed to map the therapeutic potential of stem cell-secreted proteins. The collaboration aims to identify drug candidates from Juvena’s collection of human stem-cell secreted proteins that target muscles.
Under the collaboration terms, Juvena will receive upfront payments, equity investments, and potential milestone payments for development and commercialisation.
Lilly will obtain an exclusive license for the lead candidates identified and take charge of further research, development, and commercialisation processes.
Juvena focuses on unlocking the therapeutic potential of stem-cell secreted proteins to develop biologics for chronic muscle and metabolic diseases.
The company employs the JuvNET platform to map secreted proteins to disease phenotypes, conduct screenings, and harness protein engineering capabilities. This approach supports the discovery of treatments for chronic muscle and obesity-related conditions.
Juvena co-founder and CEO Hanadie Yousef said: “We are thrilled to demonstrate the power of our fully integrated AI-enabled platform to accelerate the discovery and development of therapeutics with transformative potential that promote health span in individuals facing chronic conditions like obesity and frailty.
“Particularly as a strong body of evidence demonstrates the link between muscle health and enhanced metabolism, mobility, and even long-term disease prevention and overall health, we look forward to advancing our pro-metabolic and muscle regenerative discoveries and continuing to leverage Juvena’s proprietary stem-cell derived protein library to identify novel targets and deliver better treatments for patients with efficiency and purpose.”
Recently, Juvena initiated its first clinical trial for JUV-161, a drug candidate designed from a naturally secreted protein known to enhance muscle regeneration.
Additionally, the company is advancing JUV-112, a preclinical candidate aimed at obesity and metabolic disease, which operates through a mechanism unrelated to appetite suppression. Juvena’s research has also uncovered several proteins with tissue restorative benefits across conditions like pulmonary fibrosis, hepatic fibrosis, and osteoarthritis.
