Terns Pharmaceuticals to highlight data supporting TERN-501

Terns Pharmaceuticals announced that preclinical data supporting TERN-501, a highly selective thyroid hormone receptor beta receptor agonist, in combination with a GLP-1 receptor agonist for obesity will be highlighted in a poster presentation at the American Diabetes Association 84th Scientific Sessions, taking place June 21-24, 2024 in Orlando, FL. The presentation reports results from a preclinical study in mice fed a high fat diet for 24 weeks prior to study start. Obese mice were treated once daily with vehicle, TERN-501, semaglutide, TERN-501+semaglutide, or tirzepatide for six weeks. The combination of TERN-501+ semaglutide significantly enhanced weight loss compared to semaglutide alone. Additionally, the TERN-501+semaglutide combination showed proportionally greater loss of fat mass relative to lean mass compared to semaglutide alone, indicating improved quality of weight loss. The study also explored metabolic adaptation, a counter regulatory process that decreases energy expenditure and limits the magnitude and sustainability of weight loss. Mice treated with semaglutide and tirzepatide showed significant weight loss that was associated with decreases in energy expenditure. When TERN-501 was combined with semaglutide, weight loss-induced lowering of energy expenditure was prevented and increases in the thermogenesis marker, UCP-1, were observed in subcutaneous adipose tissue. TERN-501 has potential to attenuate metabolic adaptation and normalize energy expenditure, which may enhance the weight loss efficacy of GLP-1 therapies.