Ablaris Therapeutics, Inc. is commercializing a new pharmaceutical approach to fighting obesity, a widespread and growing problem worldwide. Based on technology developed at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in the laboratory of Dr. Renata Pasqualini and Dr. Wadih Arap, the Ablaris platform consists of a suite of proprietary peptides that specifically target and kill the blood vessels that feed white fat tissue. Deprived of nutrition, the fat cells die and are broken down by the body.
Independent studies across multiple species, including non-human primates, have demonstrated substantial and rapid weight loss in overweight animals. This is accomplished directly by reducing fat stores and indirectly by reducing appetite. Ablaris' first drug candidate is expected to enter the clinic in 2011.
Data using Ablaris's lead candidate have already been reported in peer-reviewed scientific journals and further publications are expected throughout 2011. Reports have shown significant and rapid reductions in body weight in the form of reduced body fat. For instance, published data include reports that obese study animals lost nearly one-third of their body weight after one month of daily subcutaneous injections. Weight loss was due to a combination of destruction of fat and a decrease in appetite and resulting food intake. More
