Fauna Bio has identified a second obesity drug target under its collaboration with Eli Lilly, announced on 11 November. The target was found using a comparative genomics and machine learning platform trained on mammalian genomes, including hibernating species that undergo substantial shifts in body weight and metabolic rate without lasting harm, and it originates from a different tissue than the first target.
Key Points
- Fauna Bio and Eli Lilly nominate second obesity target
- Target derived from a different tissue than the first
- AI platform built on mammalian and hibernator genomes drove discovery
Longevity Analysis
Hibernators tolerate extreme metabolic and body-composition swings without the cardiometabolic damage such changes cause in humans, making their genomes a source of candidate pathways for metabolic resilience. Expanding obesity pharmacology beyond incretin receptor biology to targets in other tissues could broaden options for preserving metabolic health across the lifespan, though these targets remain preclinical.
Original published by Longevity.Technology, by Kyle Umipig.