AEterna Zentaris, University of Montreal to develop anti-obesity compounds

By Elaine Rigoli

Tampa, Fla., May 3 - AEterna Zentaris, Inc. and the University of Montreal will partner to launch a preclinical research project on the role of ghrelin in the development of obesity.

This project will be conducted during a three-year period with an initial budget of C$1.2 million.

Ghrelin is a recently discovered natural hormone secreted by the stomach that increases appetite and also induces accumulation of fat tissue.

Therefore, developing ghrelin antagonist molecules could lead to appetite suppression and to the development of novel treatment for obesity, according to a news release.

AEterna Zentaris developed many small orally bioavailable molecules that could have ghrelin antagonist properties, while the University of Montreal has produced a unique and innovative model that will enable it to identify those molecules that antagonize the effect of ghrelin on the accumulation of fat tissue, the release said.

Such molecules could eventually become a treatment against obesity and other related metabolic disorders.

AEterna Zentaris is a global biopharmaceutical company focused on oncology and endocrine therapy and is based in Montreal.

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