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Highlights:

  • Arecor and Skye Bioscience have entered a formulation development agreement to enhance nimacimab using Arecor's Arestat platform.
  • The partnership supports Skye's ongoing Phase 2 a trial of nimacimab for obesity, with interim results expected later in 2025.
  • Skye will fund development and may license the formulation and related IP for further advancement and commercialisation.

Arecor Therapeutics plc (AIM: AREC) has announced a new collaboration with US-based Skye Bioscience (Nasdaq: SKYE) to develop a higher concentration formulation of nimacimab, a monoclonal antibody currently under investigation for the treatment of obesity and related metabolic conditions.

Under the agreement, Arecor will leverage its Arestat  formulation platform to develop a higher-concentration version of nimacimab. The goal is to create a formulation that allows for more efficient dosing and potentially greater ease of use for patients. Skye Bioscience will finance the development work and holds the option to license the new formulation and associated intellectual property for future clinical development and commercialisation.

Nimacimab is currently being studied in Skye’s Phase 2a Cbeyond clinical trial, targeting patients with obesity and those who are overweight. The candidate is a first-in-class CB1 receptor-inhibiting monoclonal antibody, designed to address some of the limitations of existing weight loss treatments. Interim clinical data from the 26-week treatment period are expected to be available in late Q3 or early Q4 2025.

This agreement represents Arecor’s third formulation development partnership in 2025, with the combined pre-license deal value of its collaborations now exceeding £1 million. While specific financial terms related to the Skye collaboration were not disclosed, the deal provides future licensing potential contingent upon successful development outcomes.

Arecor CEO Sarah Howell stated that the partnership aligns with the company’s strategy to apply its proprietary platform to advance and optimise therapeutic formulations. Skye COO Tu Diep highlighted limitations in current obesity treatments, including issues with tolerability, adherence, and safety. He noted that nimacimab has shown a favourable pharmacokinetic profile, with a half-life of 18 to 21 days and suitability for once-weekly dosing.