Richmond, CA – September 26, 2024 – BioAge Labs, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing therapies for metabolic diseases by targeting the biology of human aging, successfully completed its Initial Public Offering (IPO) on September 26, 2024. The company raised $198 million, with its shares now trading on Nasdaq under the ticker symbol $BIOA. This financial milestone is set to accelerate the development of its pipeline, including its lead candidate azelaprag and novel NLRP3 inhibitors.
"We are thrilled to announce the closing of BioAge's IPO! As of September 26, we are trading on Nasdaq as $BIOA. This milestone will enable our development of novel therapies that treat metabolic diseases by harnessing the biology of aging," BioAge Labs announced on social media.
BioAge Labs' strategy centers on leveraging its proprietary human aging datasets to identify promising therapeutic targets. Its lead product candidate, azelaprag, an orally available small molecule APJ agonist, is currently in two Phase 2 clinical trials for obesity. These trials are evaluating azelaprag in combination with GLP-1R agonists, tirzepatide (Eli Lilly's Zepbound®) and semaglutide (Novo Nordisk's Wegovy®), with topline results anticipated in Q3 2025 and H2 2026, respectively. The company aims to improve weight loss, body composition, and tolerability in obese patients, particularly older adults.
The company's platform has also identified NLRP3 as a key driver of neuroinflammation, leading to the development of brain-penetrant NLRP3 inhibitors. BioAge plans to submit an Investigational New Drug (IND) application for an NLRP3 inhibitor in H2 2025, with a Phase 1 clinical trial expected to commence in H1 2026. This program targets diseases where neuroinflammation plays a significant role, reflecting BioAge's broader commitment to addressing age-related health challenges.
BioAge Labs has also forged strategic collaborations with major pharmaceutical companies. A multi-year research collaboration with Novartis focuses on discovering drug targets at the intersection of aging biology and exercise, while a partnership with Eli Lilly supports the combination trials of azelaprag with tirzepatide. These collaborations underscore the growing interest from large pharmaceutical firms in the longevity biotech sector, which saw $8.5 billion in venture capital funding in 2024.
