Northbrook, Illinois, United States, October 14, 2026
Kalohexis, Inc., a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing treatments for metabolic disorders, has announced the formation of a Scientific Advisory Panel (SAP) featuring three internationally recognized experts in melanocortin biology, obesity and cancer cachexia. The panel includes Andrew Butler, Ph.D., Michael Cowley, Ph.D., and Richard Skipworth, M.D., who will work with the company’s leadership team to guide the development of its proprietary therapeutic pipeline. Kalohexis is investigating treatments that target the central melanocortin-3 and melanocortin-4 receptors (MC3R and MC4R), which play important roles in appetite regulation, energy balance and metabolic homeostasis. The company’s lead programs include 710GO, an oral dual MC3R/MC4R agonist being developed for general obesity, and mifomelatide, a dual MC3R/MC4R antagonist being investigated for cancer cachexia. The advisory panel is expected to contribute scientific and clinical expertise as Kalohexis advances these programs through development and explores opportunities to address unmet medical needs in metabolic disease.
Leading Experts to Guide Melanocortin Research
The newly formed Scientific Advisory Panel brings together expertise in receptor biology, neuroendocrinology, metabolic regulation and clinical research. Its founding members will advise Kalohexis on scientific strategy, therapeutic development and the design of research programs targeting metabolic disorders. Andrew Butler, Ph.D., a professor in the Department of Pharmacology and Physiology at Saint Louis University School of Medicine, is recognized for research into the neuroendocrine mechanisms that regulate energy balance, glucose homeostasis and body composition. His work has helped establish the roles of MC3R and MC4R in feeding behavior, energy expenditure and adiposity. His expertise is expected to support the company’s efforts to understand how modulation of these receptors could influence metabolic health. Michael Cowley, Ph.D., a professor in the Department of Physiology at Monash University in Melbourne, Australia, studies the central neural circuits that control appetite, body weight and energy homeostasis. His research has contributed to understanding how changes in melanocortin signaling can contribute to obesity and other metabolic conditions. His drug development experience is expected to inform the development of Kalohexis’ melanocortin-based therapeutic candidates. Richard Skipworth, M.D., a consultant general and upper gastrointestinal surgeon at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh and an honorary professor at the University of Edinburgh, brings clinical and translational research expertise in cancer cachexia, sarcopenia and nutritional support. His work focuses particularly on patients with upper gastrointestinal and pancreatic cancers, populations in which disease-associated weight loss and muscle wasting can complicate treatment.
Pipeline Targets Obesity and Cancer Cachexia
Kalohexis is developing therapies designed to modulate the melanocortin system, a network involved in regulating appetite, energy expenditure and metabolic balance. By targeting MC3R and MC4R, the company aims to investigate different therapeutic strategies for conditions involving excessive weight gain or severe involuntary weight loss. Its lead obesity candidate, 710GO, is an oral dual MC3R/MC4R agonist designed to promote weight loss by influencing the body’s metabolic regulation. The company is investigating whether this approach could support more durable weight reduction while preserving lean body mass. These potential benefits remain under evaluation and require confirmation through clinical studies. The second lead program, mifomelatide, is a dual MC3R/MC4R antagonist being developed for cancer cachexia, a complex syndrome characterized by involuntary weight loss, muscle wasting and metabolic disturbances. Cachexia can reduce physical function, impair quality of life and make it more difficult for patients to tolerate cancer treatment. Despite its substantial clinical burden, treatment options remain limited, highlighting the need for therapies that address the underlying biological mechanisms. The advisory panel’s expertise in both obesity and cachexia aligns with Kalohexis’ strategy of investigating the melanocortin system across different forms of metabolic dysregulation. Its members are expected to help evaluate scientific evidence, refine development priorities and support the advancement of these investigational candidates.
Advertisement
Scientific Collaboration Supports Future Drug Development
The formation of the panel represents an organizational milestone as Kalohexis continues to develop its therapeutic portfolio. By bringing experienced researchers and clinicians into its scientific decision-making process, the company aims to strengthen the connection between basic biological research, clinical study design and drug development strategy. Kalohexis emerged from Endevica Bio in March 2026 and is focused on peptide-based therapeutics targeting central melanocortin receptors. Its research strategy centers on understanding how receptor activation or inhibition may help regulate metabolic homeostasis in patients with obesity and cancer cachexia. The new advisors will work alongside company leadership as the pipeline progresses. The appointment of scientific advisors does not itself establish the safety or effectiveness of the company’s drug candidates, and future clinical results and regulatory assessments will determine their potential role in medical practice. Overall, the announcement highlights Kalohexis’ efforts to combine specialized scientific knowledge with translational drug development. With obesity and cancer-associated wasting representing distinct but significant medical challenges, the company’s research will focus on whether targeted modulation of the melanocortin system can deliver meaningful benefits for patients with metabolic disorders.
Source: Kalohexis press release
