BioAge Labs (NASDAQ:BIOA) shares climbed Monday after the longevity-focused biotech reported that its experimental oral drug, BGE-102, sharply reduced systemic inflammation in a mid-stage study of obese patients.
The results bolster the company's bid to compete in the crowded metabolic space by targeting the "inflammaging" that often accompanies weight gain.
In a Phase 1 multiple ascending dose (MAD) cohort, the 120 mg once-daily dose of BGE-102 achieved a median 86% reduction in high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) after just 14 days.
Notably, 93% of participants—who entered the trial with elevated inflammation—reached hsCRP levels below the 2 mg/L threshold typically associated with reduced cardiovascular risk.
The Emeryville, California-based company is positioning BGE-102 as a "best-in-class" NLRP3 inhibitor.
Unlike many competitors, BioAge’s molecule is designed to cross the blood-brain barrier, potentially addressing neuroinflammation that disrupts appetite regulation in the brain.
The interim data also showed a 44% median reduction in IL-6 and a 93% suppression of IL-1β, a primary driver of the body’s inflammatory response.
BioAge, which went public in late 2024, has been a favorite of Silicon Valley venture firms like Andreessen Horowitz.
The company is betting that BGE-102 can differentiate itself from GLP-1 blockbusters like Zepbound and Wegovy by focusing on the underlying cellular inflammation that drives long-term cardiac and metabolic complications.
Preclinical data previously suggested the drug could be used as a monotherapy or in combination with GLP-1s to enhance weight loss.
The company reported a favorable safety profile with no dose-limiting toxicities or serious adverse events.
BioAge expects to release a full Phase 1 readout and initiate a 100-patient Phase 2a proof-of-concept trial in the first half of 2026.
As of late 2025, BioAge held approximately $529 million in cash and marketable securities, providing a runway through its expected 2026 clinical milestones.
Shares of BIOA hit a new 52-week high of $16.18 earlier this month following positive sentiment ahead of the J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference.