MetaVia Spotlights MASH and Obesity Drugs at Key 2026 Conference

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – December 29, 2025 – Clinical-stage biotechnology company MetaVia Inc. is set to take a prominent role at the upcoming 10th Annual MASH-TAG 2026 Conference, signaling a strong focus on its developing therapies for cardiometabolic diseases. The company announced it will not only participate in but also sponsor the influential event, which is scheduled for January 8-10 in Park City, Utah.

The MASH-TAG conference is a premier gathering for clinicians, researchers, and industry leaders dedicated to advancing the treatment of Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatohepatitis (MASH). By deploying its business development and clinical teams to the conference, MetaVia is strategically positioning its pipeline in front of key opinion leaders and potential partners, highlighting its commitment to addressing one of the most challenging areas in modern medicine.

MetaVia is advancing a two-pronged strategy targeting the intertwined epidemics of MASH and obesity. The company's presence at a conference specifically focused on MASH underscores the importance of its candidate, vanoglipel (DA-1241), while its broader portfolio includes a promising next-generation obesity treatment, DA-1726.

A Novel Approach to the Silent Liver Epidemic

Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatohepatitis, or MASH, represents a severe and progressive form of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). It is characterized by chronic liver inflammation and cell damage, which can lead to advanced scarring (fibrosis), cirrhosis, liver failure, and an increased risk of liver cancer. Driven by the global rise in obesity and type 2 diabetes, MASH has become a silent and widespread public health crisis with a significant unmet medical need.

MetaVia's entry into this field is vanoglipel (DA-1241), a novel drug candidate with a distinct mechanism of action. Vanoglipel is an agonist for the G-protein-coupled receptor 119 (GPR119). Activating this receptor, which is found in the gut and pancreatic islets, stimulates the release of key incretin and gut hormones, including glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP), and peptide YY (PYY). These hormones play crucial roles in regulating glucose metabolism and appetite.

According to the company, preclinical studies of vanoglipel have demonstrated a wide range of positive effects. These include reductions in hepatic steatosis (fat accumulation in the liver), liver inflammation, and fibrosis—the three core pathologies of MASH. Beyond the liver, the drug also showed benefits in weight loss, lipid metabolism, and glucose control. A key finding from a Phase 2a clinical study suggested that vanoglipel has a direct hepatic action in addition to its systemic glucose-lowering effects, a potentially crucial differentiator in a field where many therapies have struggled to show direct anti-fibrotic benefits.

Redefining Obesity Treatment with Dual-Action Power

While vanoglipel targets the liver, MetaVia's second major asset, DA-1726, is aimed squarely at the obesity crisis. This candidate is a novel oxyntomodulin (OXM) analogue, a synthetic version of a naturally occurring gut hormone that has a dual function. DA-1726 acts as both a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor (GLP1R) agonist and a glucagon receptor (GCGR) agonist.

This dual-agonist approach is designed to improve upon the effects of the current generation of highly successful obesity drugs, which are primarily selective GLP-1 receptor agonists. The mechanism of DA-1726 is based on a complementary biological synergy. The GLP-1 component works to suppress appetite and decrease food intake, which is the cornerstone of existing incretin-based therapies. The novel addition of glucagon receptor activation is intended to increase energy expenditure, effectively boosting the body's metabolism and rate of calorie burning.

By combining these two actions—reducing calories in and increasing calories out—MetaVia believes DA-1726 has the potential to produce superior body weight loss compared to therapies that only target the GLP-1 receptor. The company has reported that results from a Phase 1 multiple ascending dose (MAD) trial in patients with obesity have already pointed to a best-in-class potential. The early data showed promising effects on not only weight loss but also glucose control and waist circumference, a key indicator of visceral fat which is strongly linked to metabolic disease.

Navigating a High-Stakes Competitive Landscape

The markets for both MASH and obesity treatments are among the most competitive and lucrative in the pharmaceutical industry, attracting billions in research and development from global giants and nimble biotechs alike. For any clinical-stage company, demonstrating a clear path forward and a differentiated product profile is essential.

In the MASH space, the recent approval of the first-ever therapy has set a new benchmark, but the complexity of the disease suggests that a combination of different mechanisms will likely be needed for optimal treatment. Vanoglipel's unique GPR119 agonist mechanism offers a distinct pathway that could complement other therapeutic approaches, targeting metabolic dysregulation at a fundamental level.

Meanwhile, the obesity market is currently dominated by titans like Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly. However, the next wave of innovation is focused on moving beyond single-pathway drugs. The development of dual and even triple-agonist therapies, such as MetaVia's DA-1726, represents the frontier of obesity medicine. These next-generation treatments aim to deliver greater weight loss efficacy and potentially provide additional metabolic benefits, such as improved lipid profiles and preservation of lean muscle mass during weight loss.

MetaVia's sponsorship of the MASH-TAG conference is a clear strategic move to elevate the profile of its pipeline within the specialized medical community. As the company continues to advance both vanoglipel and DA-1726 through more advanced and larger clinical trials, the data generated will be critical in determining their place in the future treatment paradigm for two of the world's most pressing health challenges. The outcomes of these development programs will ultimately reveal whether these novel mechanisms can translate early promise into tangible benefits for millions of patients.