BioAge Labs to Present Preclinical Data on APJ Agonism for Diabetic Obesity and Heart Failure at the American Diabetes Association (ADA) 85th Scientific Sessions

Treatment with apelin receptor agonist enhanced glycemic control and demonstrated cardioprotective effects, with additive benefits observed in combination with incretin therapy

Data support development of next-generation APJ agonists for obesity and key comorbidities

EMERYVILLE, Calif., June 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- BioAge Labs, Inc. (Nasdaq: BIOA) (“BioAge”, “the Company”), a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing therapeutic product candidates for metabolic diseases by targeting the biology of human aging, today announced that it will present new preclinical data supporting apelin receptor (APJ) agonism for the treatment of diabetic obesity and heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). The data will be presented at the American Diabetes Association's 85th Scientific Sessions, held June 20–23, 2025, in Chicago, Illinois.

“Our preclinical data demonstrated that APJ activation can confer multiple benefits in models of diabetic obesity and heart failure, and enhance the effects of incretin therapy,” said Kristen Fortney, PhD, CEO and co‑founder of BioAge. “We are advancing next‑generation APJ agonists to translate this promising biology into new therapies for obesity and its major comorbidities.”

APJ is the receptor for apelin, an exercise-induced signaling molecule known as an exerkine. Apelin has been shown in preclinical studies to have the potential to recapitulate many of the downstream benefits of exercise. BioAge’s discovery platform identified apelin signaling as a therapeutic target based on analysis of human aging cohorts, which revealed that higher levels of circulating apelin are predictive of improved physical function and increased longevity. BioAge has shown that in preclinical obesity models, APJ agonism can approximately double the weight loss induced by GLP-1 receptor agonists while restoring body composition and muscle function, suggesting that APJ agonists could serve as pharmacological exercise mimetics to enhance incretin therapy.

BioAge is advancing multiple APJ agonist approaches, including both oral small-molecule and long-acting injectable formulations, with an IND filing targeted for 2026 [link].

In their two presentations, BioAge CMO and EVP Research Paul Rubin, MD, and scientist Shijun Yan, PhD, MBA, will present data that demonstrated that in preclinical models of diabetic obesity and HFpEF, APJ agonist treatment had potential as monotherapy that could be enhanced in combination with incretin therapies.