MIT's spinning grammatical biology for $38 million new approaches to treat obesity and more
Santtis Bio, a startup that aims to bring key benefits of gastric bypass surgery to patients, has raised $38 million as its lead program continues to develop early clinically, a potential new treatment for obesity.
The Series A financing announced Tuesday is led by Cerberus Ventures.
Syntactic obesity approaches involve redirecting nutrient absorption. This duodenal nutrient removal occurs during gastric bypass surgery and usually absorbs nutrients in the upper part of the small intestine, which are redirected to the distal part of the organ. This is important because this area of the small intestine stimulates the secretion of GLP-1 and other hormones that promote satiety.
Unlike the permanent nature of gastric bypass surgery, the nutrient redirection of grammatical is temporary. The startup's technology is called Synt (abbreviation of synthetic tissue lining), which uses capsules to deliver compounds that form temporary polymer coatings to arrange the duodenum (the upper part of the small intestine). This lining lasts about 24 hours and is naturally removed from the body afterwards.
Syntis' obesity program Synt-101 is being developed as a once-daily pill. In a preclinical study of rodents presented at the European Conference on Obesity and Weight Management in April, the results showed 1% weight loss per week during the six-week study period. Experimental treatment also preserves muscle mass, which is important because muscle loss is a side effect of currently available obesity medications. The grammar also provides data from human pilot studies. The results show evidence of nutritional redirection and satiety hormone regulation. Synt-101 is safe and well tolerated; no adverse events are reported.
In addition to supporting Synt-101 through Phase 1 tests, the new funding will enable syntax to begin a Phase 1 study of oral enzymes for the treatment of Synt-202 developed by the same-left uria. This rare genetic disease leads to a lack of the enzymes needed to break down amino acid homocysteine. Symptoms include developmental delays and vision problems. Current treatment options for identical ovarian urine include vitamin supplements and dietary restrictions.
Synt Platform technology comes from research by MIT biomedical engineering professor Giovanni Traverso and Robert Langer. In addition to nutrient exclusion, the technology can also be designed to install and maintain intestinal restriction enzymes in the small intestine. The company said its approach could also enhance the oral bioavailability of the drug and target new tissues throughout the body.
The grammar was co-founded by Traverso, Langer and CEO Rahul Dhanda. The startup raised $15.5 million in seed financing in 2023 and launched last year. Two Small Business Innovation Research Awards in 2024 are supporting the continued development of the Synt platform. Syntis' latest financing includes new investors Mansueto Investments, Woori Venture Partners and Apollo Labs. Founding investors’ bold capital partners, WR Berkley Corporation, Safar Partners, Portal Innovations, Colorcon Ventures and Cerity Partners Ventures, also attended the conference.
The protagonist's therapeutic medicine is used together with the obesity field.
The protagonist Therapeutics has told investors that it is expected to nominate oral drug candidates for obesity in the second quarter of this year. It finally unveiled the plan after closing the market on the last day of the quarter.
The protagonist's PN-4770 is an engineered peptide that binds to and activates three targets, namely GLP-1, GIP and glucagon receptors. In addition to the once-daily oral formula, the company also said it will also develop a weekly injectable version.
By using a drug to follow GLP-1, GIP and glucagon, the protagonist joins a competitive mix of companies pursuing these goals. Eli Lilly’s Broad cardiac metabolism clinical development program for its drug candidate Retatrutide includes ongoing critical testing in obesity. In 2023, the positive phase 2 results of a weekly injectable secondary muscle were announced. In March, Novo Nordisk agreed to pay $200 million to global rights (excluding Big China) to handle GLP-1, GIP and Glucagon with weekly injectable combined biotechnology peptide drugs. The pipeline of startup Kailera Therapeutics, which started last fall, includes an injectable drug that can address these three goals. Oral small molecule options may come from Septerna, whose pipeline includes a discovery phase procedure for targets.
The protagonist said that preclinical research is underway and can support the submission of new drug applications for PN-4770. The company is expected to begin human testing of the drug in the second quarter of 2026. As of the end of the first quarter of this year, the protagonist reported his cash position of $697.9 million and is expected to support the company by at least the end of 2028.
Photo: Osakawayne Studios, via Getty Images
