Cambridge, Massachusetts, September 9, 2026
MetaVia Inc., a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on cardiometabolic diseases, has reported new preclinical tissue-distribution findings for DA-1726, an investigational once-weekly dual GLP-1 and glucagon receptor agonist being developed for obesity and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH). The study found that DA-1726-derived radioactivity showed broad tissue distribution after subcutaneous administration, with the highest exposure observed in adipose tissue, including abdominal, subcutaneous and brown fat. The findings provide a potential biological explanation for the waist circumference reductions previously observed in a Phase 1 clinical study.
DA-1726 Shows Preferential Exposure in Adipose Tissue
The preclinical tissue-distribution study evaluated the movement and retention of DA-1726-derived radioactivity following subcutaneous administration. Results showed that tissue-to-plasma ratios increased over time, indicating that the compound-derived radioactivity remained in tissues for longer periods relative to plasma. The greatest exposure outside the injection site was observed in abdominal fat, subcutaneous fat and brown adipose tissue, as well as the liver. These findings are particularly relevant to MetaVia’s ongoing investigation of DA-1726 as a potential treatment for obesity. The study also demonstrated prolonged tissue retention through the final 144-hour assessment, supporting the pharmacokinetic profile required for once-weekly administration. Only minimal radioactivity was detected in the central nervous system, a finding the company said was consistent with the limited brain penetration typically observed with peptide-based therapies. Together, the tissue-distribution results provide mechanistic information about how DA-1726 behaves following administration and may help explain some of the pharmacological characteristics observed in clinical development.
Findings Support Clinical Waist Reduction Signal
MetaVia said the preclinical findings are consistent with observations from its Phase 1 multiple ascending dose study in obesity. In patients receiving the 48 mg dose of DA-1726, the company previously reported a mean 9.8-centimeter reduction in waist circumference after eight weeks of treatment, measured at Day 54. The company believes the preferential distribution to adipose tissue provides a biological rationale that may be associated with this clinical finding. DA-1726 is a novel GLP-1 receptor and glucagon receptor dual agonist. The investigational therapy is designed to activate both pathways, with the goal of reducing food intake while increasing energy expenditure. This dual mechanism is intended to support weight reduction while potentially producing broader cardiometabolic benefits. MetaVia is developing the candidate as a once-weekly subcutaneous treatment for obesity and MASH. The company has described DA-1726 as having potential advantages over selective GLP-1 receptor agonists based on findings from preclinical models and its early clinical program. However, comparisons with marketed or investigational therapies remain subject to confirmation in appropriately designed clinical studies.
Advertisement
Ongoing Study to Assess Longer-Term Outcomes
MetaVia is continuing a 24-week dose-titration study of DA-1726 in which participants receive extended treatment at their highest achieved dose levels. The company expects the longer treatment period to provide additional information about waist circumference, body weight and other cardiometabolic measures. MetaVia anticipates reporting 16-week topline data in the fourth quarter of 2026, followed by 24-week topline results in the first quarter of 2027. The continued clinical development will be important for determining whether the biological findings observed in preclinical tissue-distribution experiments translate into sustained clinical benefits. While the current findings provide a mechanistic rationale for DA-1726’s effects, preclinical tissue distribution does not establish clinical efficacy or safety. The company is also developing vanoglipel (DA-1241) for MASH, but DA-1726 remains its lead obesity-focused program. As obesity treatment increasingly moves toward therapies targeting multiple metabolic pathways, the development of dual GLP-1/glucagon receptor agonists represents an active area of pharmaceutical research. The latest findings therefore add an important pharmacokinetic and mechanistic layer to the ongoing development of DA-1726, while upcoming longer-duration clinical data will provide further evidence on whether the candidate can deliver durable reductions in body weight and waist circumference.
Source: MetaViax press release
