Cytoki Pharma Announces First Patient Dosed in Phase 2 Study of CK-0045 in Obesity and Type 2 Diabetes

The Phase 2 study will evaluate the efficacy, safety and tolerability of the company's lead lipidated IL-22 analogue, CK-0045, in patients with obesity and type 2 diabetes

COPENHAGEN, Denmark, Nov. 4, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Cytoki Pharma, ApS (Cytoki), a clinical-stage biotechnology company pioneering a new class of medicines that harness IL-22 biology to drive improved outcomes for metabolic disease, today announced the first patient has received CK-0045 in a Phase 2 proof-of-concept trial evaluating efficacy, safety and tolerability in individuals with obesity and type 2 diabetes.

"A leading public health priority, obesity and diabetes cumulatively impact more than one billion individuals worldwide. While the emergence of incretin-based medicines has provided new treatment options, there remains a demand for novel approaches that offer additional cardiometabolic benefits beyond body weight reduction alone," said Anne Louise Kjølbye, Ph.D., MBA, CDO at Cytoki. "CK-0045 offers a novel approach to metabolic disease treatment with the potential to prolong healthy lifespan through muscle-sparing weight loss accompanied by broader health benefits."

CK-0045 is an IL-22 analogue that leverages commercially proven lipidation technology to extend circulation time in the body, enabling subcutaneous delivery and offering first-in-class potential to address obesity and type 2 diabetes. Results from the Phase 1 clinical study of CK-0045 in healthy volunteers confirmed target engagement and exposure-dependent reductions in body mass, alongside improvements in low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, blood insulin levels, and insulin resistance. These results, combined with a favorable safety profile, support further clinical advancement of CK-0045.  

"Encouraging results from the Phase 1 study of CK-0045 demonstrate the potential of its unique IL-22 based mechanism of action as a powerful new therapeutic approach to address obesity and type 2 diabetes," said Dr Carel le Roux, Professor of Experimental Pathology, University College Dublin. "We eagerly anticipate Cytoki's progress as it continues clinical evaluation of CK-0045 and develops its broader IL-22-derived pipeline to deliver novel treatments for metabolic disease." 

The 16-week randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase 2 study (NCT06611930) will evaluate the efficacy, safety and tolerability of two doses of CK-0045, administered subcutaneously once a week, in 90 patients with obesity and type 2 diabetes. The outcomes investigated in the study reflect the wide range of metabolic benefits of IL-22 modulation and include amongst others weight loss, change in HbA1c, insulin sensitivity measurements, and lipid levels. Results of the study are anticipated in the first half of 2026.

Additionally, Cytoki continues to advance a robust portfolio of IL-22-based assets targeting high unmet need in metabolic disease as well as inflammatory bowel disease.

About CK-0045
CK-0045 is a long-acting analogue of interleukin-22 (IL-22), an atypical, non-immunomodulatory cytokine that selectively targets epithelial cells. In-licensed from Novo Nordisk A/S, CK-0045 incorporates validated technology to optimize the pharmacologic properties of the endogenous IL-22 protein to create a differentiated, first-in-class therapy with potential to address a broad range of metabolic diseases, including obesity and type 2 diabetes, and conditions characterized by epithelial injury, such as inflammatory bowel disease. CK-0045 has been evaluated in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase 1 study designed to investigate its safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetics in healthy individuals with and without obesity (NCT05712876). CK-0045 is currently being investigated in a Phase 2 clinical trial for patients with type 2 diabetes and overweight / obesity (NCT06611930).

About Cytoki Pharma
Cytoki Pharma is a clinical-stage biotechnology company pioneering a new class of medicines that harness IL-22 biology to drive improved outcomes for cardiometabolic disease. Cytoki's lead program, CK-0045, is a lipidated IL-22 analogue that is currently being evaluated in a Phase 2 clinical study. The company is also advancing a broader portfolio of preclinical IL-22-based assets for the treatment of metabolic disease and inflammatory bowel disease. Cytoki was founded in 2019 and is led by a team of pharma industry veterans with deep expertise in the discovery and clinical development of novel drugs. Please visit www.cytokipharma.com or follow us on LinkedIn for additional details.

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SOURCE Cytoki Pharma