Unigene Laboratories said its lead proprietary anorexigenic peptide, UGP281, is progressing. An anorexigenic peptide diminishes or controls appetite and offers potential therapeutic benefit to morbidly obese patients. The company will file an Investigational New Drug (IND) application with the FDA and initiate phase I clinical studies in 2012.

UGP281 has demonstrated substantial decreases in food consumption and weight in in vivo preclinical studies. Unigene’s “Peptelligence” core competence will allow UGP281 to be manufactured and delivered via a proprietary recombinant production and oral delivery technologies. Longer-term oral studies with UGP281 in dog models are currently ongoing.