Obesity Week 2026 | Laekna Announces Poster Presentation on LAE124, an Internally Discovered Oral Small-Molecule Amylin Receptor Agonist
SHANGHAI, Nov. 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Laekna (2105.HK) announced that LAE124, its internally discovered novel oral small-molecule dual Amylin/Calcitonin receptor agonist (DACRA) for the treatment of obesity, has been selected for a poster presentation at the 44th Annual Meeting of The Obesity Society, to be held in conjunction with Obesity Week 2026. The research will be presented in the "Emerging Weight-Loss Therapies & Long-Term Outcomes" session on November 15. Obesity Week 2026, one of the premier international conferences in the obesity field, will take place from November 14 to 17 in Washington, D.C., USA.
LAE124 is currently in IND-enabling studies. Dr. Justin GU, Chief Scientific Officer of Laekna, said: "Amylin analogs, which act through a novel mechanism in weight management, have demonstrated robust weight-loss efficacy in obese patients. The combination of Amylin analogs with GLP-1 analogs could lead to further weight loss. However, most of the Amylin analogs currently in clinical development are peptide drugs and require subcutaneous administration. Orally available small molecule DACRA will be highly competitive in the obesity market due to improved dosing convenience and enhanced patient adherence."
Data showed that LAE124, discovered internally by Laekna, demonstrated excellent pharmacological efficacy in animal studies:
- LAE124 produced a significant dose-dependent reduction in acute food intake after a single dose in DIO rats. Daily oral dosing with LAE124 in DIO rats for 28 days led to robust dose-dependent reduction in body weight in DIO rats.
- LAE124 has a favorable PK profile in animals, with low clearance, high oral bioavailability and a long half-life. The predicted PK profile of LAE124 supports once-daily oral dosing in human at a low dose.
- LAE124 also demonstrated a favorable safety profile and low drug–drug interaction risk, offering greater development flexibility and supporting its potential use in future combination regimens with other weight-loss therapies.
Dr. Gu stated that the development of LAE124 further underscores Laekna's extensive experience and deep scientific foundation in metabolic diseases and its increasingly diversified innovative pipeline. In addition to the multiple drug candidates of targeting the ActRII receptor (LAE102, LAE103 and LAE123), Laekna is also accelerating the development of therapies targeting novel pathways such as Amylin and UCN2, building a portfolio of metabolic disease and obesity therapies driven by new mechanisms of action.
The poster presentation details are as follows:
Poster Number: 465
Poster Title: LAE124: A Novel Oral Small Molecule Dual Amylin/Calcitonin Receptor Agonist for Treatment of Obesity
Presentation Time: Sunday, 15th November, 2:30 pm - 3:30 pm EST
Location: Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center: Exhibit Hall BCD
Washington, D.C., USA.
The theme of Obesity Week 2026 is "Innovative Science to Transformational Care". The conference will attract over 4,300 obesity researchers, clinicians, and investigators from more than 60 countries around the world to showcase cutting-edge advances in obesity mechanism research and innovative drug development.
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About Laekna
HKEX Stock Code: 2105.HK
Patient needs in major disease areas—such as metabolic diseases, oncology, and liver fibrosis—remain the driving force behind our mission. Laekna, a science-driven biotechnology company, is committed to bringing novel therapeutics to patients around the world.
Leveraging our tremendous experience and extensive know-how in disease biology, we have built a pipeline of over 20 internally discovered innovative drug candidates with proprietary intellectual property rights. We keep expanding our global reach through strategic partnerships, fostering collaborative success across regions.
In oncology, the Phase III clinical trial of LAE002 (afuresertib, an AKT inhibitor) for breast cancer (AFFIRM-205) was completed and successfully met its primary endpoint. We've submitted NDA to the CDE(Center for Drug Evaluation, China National Medical Products Administration) in August 2026, which marks Laekna's pivotal transition from clinical development to commercialization. Laekna has entered into an exclusive licensing agreement with Qilu Pharma to further accelerate the delivery of this novel therapeutic to patients across China.
In metabolic diseases, building on our deep expertise and extensive know-how in the ActRII pathway, we have established a globally competitive and well-differentiated portfolio comprising LAE102, LAE103, and LAE123. Topline results from Phase I studies of LAE102, an ActRIIA-targeting monoclonal antibody for obesity, conducted in China and the United States, demonstrated increases in lean mass and reductions in fat mass, along with a favorable tolerability and safety profile. The U.S. Phase I study was completed in collaboration with Eli Lilly, with the goal of jointly accelerating the global development of this high-quality weight management therapy. The Phase I SAD study of LAE103 (ActRIIB monoclonal antibody) is advancing in Australia.
From our laboratory in Zhangjiang Pharma Valley in Shanghai, to clinical trials conducted across China, the U.S., and Australia, our footprint spans the globe. Looking ahead, Laekna will continue to collaborate with international partners to accelerate delivery of novel therapeutics to patients worldwide.
For more information, please visit: https://www.laekna.com/ or https://www.linkedin.com/company/74110713/
Forward-Looking Statements
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SOURCE Laekna
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