MetaVia Moves DA-1726 Into Higher-Dose Territory as Phase 1 Data Build a Compelling Obesity Case

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The clinical-stage biotech has dosed the first patient in Part 3 of its Phase 1 program, targeting doses up to 64 mg with data expected in the fourth quarter of 2026.

MetaVia Inc. (Nasdaq: MTVA) is making steady progress building the clinical case for DA-1726, its novel dual-receptor obesity candidate, following a series of encouraging Phase 1 results and the recent launch of a higher-dose titration study. On April 10, the Cambridge, Massachusetts-based company announced that the first patient has been dosed in Part 3 of its Phase 1 clinical trial evaluating DA-1726, a novel dual oxyntomodulin (OXM) analog targeting both GLP-1 (GLP1R) and glucagon (GCGR) receptors.

The milestone marks the next logical step in a program that has steadily generated positive readouts, and it arrives at a moment when investor appetite for next-generation obesity therapeutics remains high.

What Makes DA-1726 Different

DA-1726 acts as a dual agonist of GLP-1 receptors and glucagon receptors, leading to weight loss through reduced appetite and increased energy expenditure. That dual mechanism is central to MetaVia's (MTVA) differentiation argument. By activating both receptor pathways simultaneously, the compound is designed to deliver greater metabolic impact than selective GLP-1 agonists alone.

OXM is a naturally occurring gut hormone that activates GLP1R and GCGR, thereby decreasing food intake while increasing energy expenditure, thus potentially resulting in superior body weight loss compared to selective GLP-1 receptor agonists such as semaglutide. In preclinical models, that potential showed up in comparative data: DA-1726 resulted in improved weight loss compared to semaglutide (Wegovy) in pre-clinical mouse models, and elicited similar weight reduction to tirzepatide (Zepbound) and survodutide while consuming more food, preserving lean body mass and demonstrating improved lipid-lowering effects compared to survodutide.

Phase 1 Results That Got Investors' Attention

The clinical data from earlier Phase 1 cohorts have provided meaningful support for the differentiation thesis. Results from the Phase 1 extended 8-week, non-titrated 48 mg cohort demonstrated robust early weight loss, statistically significant reductions in waist circumference, strong improvements in glucose control, and meaningful reductions in liver stiffness, all achieved without titration and with a favorable safety and tolerability profile.

The headline number is notable for a Phase 1 study: the 48 mg cohort delivered 9.1% weight loss. The liver stiffness reduction is particularly worth watching. Few obesity candidates in early-stage development have generated signals across weight loss, glycemic control, and hepatic benefit simultaneously, which MetaVia believes supports a potential best-in-class profile in obesity and broader cardiometabolic disease.

Earlier data from the 32 mg cohort also stood out. At that dose, DA-1726 achieved dose-dependent weight loss with a mean of 4.3% and a maximum of 6.3% (p=0.0005 at Day 26), with 83% of patients reporting early satiety and average waist reductions of 1.6 inches (maximum: 3.9 inches) by Day 33. The drug lowered fasting glucose by up to 18 mg/dL without inducing hypoglycemia, and cardiovascular safety was favorable, showing no QTcF prolongation and a reduction in heart rate across most cohorts. Gastrointestinal side effects were mild, transient and infrequent.

Part 3: Pushing to Higher Doses

Part 3 of the Phase 1 program consists of two 16-week titration cohorts designed to evaluate one-step and two-step dose-escalation strategies to safely achieve higher target doses and further optimize tolerability.

The design is straightforward. Part 3A evaluates a one-step titration regimen with 16 mg for 4 weeks followed by 48 mg for 12 weeks, while Part 3B evaluates a two-step titration regimen with 16 mg for 4 weeks, 32 mg for 4 weeks, and 64 mg for 8 weeks. The trial is expected to enroll a total of 40 obese, otherwise healthy adult subjects, with 20 subjects per part, randomized 4:1 (16 active; 4 placebo). The study will assess safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics of DA-1726.

The tolerability angle is a strategic selling point. Part 3 is designed to reach higher therapeutic doses with improved tolerability, which could represent a meaningful advantage compared to currently marketed therapies that require longer, more gradual titration. If the data support a faster, cleaner path to optimal dosing, that could be a commercially significant differentiator in a market where patient dropout and tolerability challenges have been persistent issues. Data from the Part 3 study are expected in the fourth quarter of 2026.

IP and Financial Position

MetaVia has also been building its intellectual property position around DA-1726. The program is supported by a growing estate comprising 39 granted and pending patents in the United States and internationally, providing protection at least through 2041. The portfolio, exclusively licensed from Dong-A ST Co., Ltd., broadly covers DA-1726's novel peptide structure, its long-acting dual-incretin design, and therapeutic use across obesity, metabolic disease, and related cardiometabolic conditions.

On the financial side, MetaVia ended 2025 with a leaner cost structure than the prior year. Total operating expenses were approximately $13.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2025, compared to approximately $28.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2024, a decrease of approximately $15.1 million primarily attributable to lower R&D and G&A expenses. Cash and cash equivalents stood at $10.3 million as of December 31, 2025.

The company subsequently strengthened its balance sheet in January 2026, closing an underwritten public offering for gross proceeds of approximately $9.3 million. Combined, the company expects its cash position to fund operations into the fourth quarter of 2026. That runway aligns with the timing of the Part 3 data readout, meaning investors should expect the next major catalyst to arrive before additional capital needs to be raised.

What to Watch

For investors following the obesity therapeutics space, the Q4 2026 Part 3 readout is the key near-term catalyst. The data will determine whether DA-1726 can achieve doses of 48 mg and 64 mg with the tolerability profile the company is targeting, and whether the weight loss and metabolic benefits seen at earlier doses persist or improve with longer titration exposure. The liver stiffness data, in particular, will be closely watched given the limited field of obesity drugs that have demonstrated direct hepatic benefits in early-stage studies.

MetaVia is also advancing vanoglipel (DA-1241), its GPR119 agonist candidate for MASH, and is currently working to schedule an end-of-Phase 2 meeting with the FDA for that program, giving the company two potential value drivers heading into 2027.

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