Cadila R&D working on anti-obesity drug

Cadila Healthcare has filed its fourth investigational new drug (IND) application for a new molecular entity (NME) - ZYO1, a drug for treating obesity and related disorders with the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI).

According to a release issued by Zydus Cadila to the BSE, ZYO1 is a experimental drug, working through CB-1 mechanism, which will help obese patients lose weight, and help in controlling blood sugar levels in type2 diabetes. The drug could also have a role in protecting the heart.

"The company will initiate Phase I clinical trials to ensure safety and tolerability of ZYO1. Once the safety of the drug is established, the company plans to develop it further to treat various cardiometabolic risk factors in patients with obesity," the release added.

"This is an important milestone in the new drug discovery initiatives that are being undertaken at the Zydus Research Centre. With ZYH1 undergoing phase II trials, ZY11 ready for phase II trials and ZYH2 undergoing phase I trial, we are building up a promising pipeline of new molecular entities," Pankaj Patel, chairman and MD, said.