New updates have been reported about Antag Therapeutics.
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Antag Therapeutics has appointed Philip Just Larsen, MD, PhD, as Chief Executive Officer, shifting him from his long-standing role as Chairman at a pivotal development point for the company. The leadership transition comes as Antag prepares to move its lead asset, AT7687, a first-in-class GIP receptor antagonist peptide for obesity and diabetes, into a Phase 2a clinical trial expected to begin in mid-2026.
Larsen brings over two decades of metabolic disease R&D leadership from roles at Bayer, Novo Nordisk, Eli Lilly, AstraZeneca, and Sanofi, including overseeing the early work that led to dual incretin agonists such as tirzepatide and mazdutide. Interim Chairman Jørgen Søberg Petersen stated that Larsen has been central to Antag’s scientific and strategic evolution, and will now drive execution as the company advances AT7687 through the next clinical stage.
Antag plans to present new data from its completed first-in-human Phase 1 trial of AT7687 at the American Diabetes Association 2026 Scientific Sessions in New Orleans, providing further validation ahead of the Phase 2a start. The company positions AT7687 as a differentiated obesity and diabetes therapy aimed at long-term metabolic health benefits and improved tolerability, rather than weight loss alone.
Built on decades of research by GLP-1 pioneer Jens Juul Holst, AT7687 is engineered to selectively block the GIP receptor, a pathway linked to fat storage, insulin resistance, and broader metabolic dysfunction. Preclinical data show a favorable tolerability profile without the need for dose titration and improvements across biomarkers associated with cardiovascular outcomes and body composition.
Antag’s peptide design also enables flexible formulation options, supporting both standalone use and potential co-formulations with other obesity drugs, which could widen partnering and commercialization pathways if clinical data hold up. Backed by an €80 million Series A round led by Versant Ventures with participation from Novo Holdings and other investors, Antag now has specialist leadership and capital in place to drive AT7687 through mid-stage development.
Larsen described his mandate as steering Antag through a critical inflection point as it seeks to translate mechanistic promise into clinically meaningful outcomes for people with obesity and diabetes. For stakeholders, the CEO change, upcoming ADA data, and Phase 2a initiation timeline collectively mark a shift from platform-building to value-defining clinical execution for Antag’s lead program.