Resalis Taps RNA Expert to Advance Muscle-Sparing Obesity Drug

TORINO, Italy – January 22, 2026 – Resalis Therapeutics, an Italian biotechnology firm, has appointed physician-scientist Dr. Sandor Batkai as its new Medical Director, a strategic move that signals the company's serious ambitions in the highly competitive obesity treatment market. Dr. Batkai will spearhead the clinical development of RES-010, a first-in-class RNA therapy designed to treat obesity by fundamentally reprogramming cellular metabolism.

The appointment comes as Resalis advances RES-010 through a first-in-human Phase 1 clinical trial. Dr. Batkai’s extensive experience, particularly his recent success at Cardior Pharmaceuticals which led to its acquisition by Novo Nordisk, brings significant credibility and expertise to Resalis as it aims to challenge the current weight-loss treatment paradigm.

A Strategic Hire with a Proven Track Record

Dr. Batkai is a seasoned expert with over two decades of experience in cardiovascular, metabolic, and RNA therapeutics. His appointment is seen by industry observers as a major coup for Resalis. Most recently, he was the Co-founder and Head of Medical Research & Intelligence at Cardior Pharmaceuticals, a German biotech that pioneered non-coding RNA-based therapeutics for heart disease. At Cardior, Dr. Batkai was instrumental in advancing its lead candidate from concept through early clinical development, a journey that culminated in the company's acquisition by pharmaceutical giant Novo Nordisk in 2024. This track record of translating novel RNA science into valuable clinical assets is precisely what Resalis needs for its own ambitious program.

“We are thrilled to welcome Sandor to the team. As an RNA expert in the cardiometabolic field with an established record of execution, his key clinical and scientific insights will be instrumental in supporting the further clinical development of RES-010,” said Alessandro Toniolo, CEO of Resalis Therapeutics. “This appointment comes at an important moment, as we are progressing RES-010 through a first-in-human Phase 1 clinical trial with final data expected this year and planning to initiate our Phase 1b extension study shortly thereafter.”

Before his tenure at Cardior, Dr. Batkai led a research group at the Hannover Medical School and conducted research at the U.S. National Institutes of Health, focusing on cardiovascular and metabolic diseases, including obesity. His deep scientific background, evidenced by over 100 publications, provides a strong foundation for overseeing the complex clinical and regulatory path ahead for RES-010.

Redefining Weight Loss: The Science Behind RES-010

Resalis is pursuing a fundamentally different approach to weight loss than the popular GLP-1 receptor agonists like semaglutide, which primarily work by suppressing appetite. Instead, RES-010 is an antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) that targets a specific molecule called microRNA-22 (miR-22). Preclinical research suggests miR-22 acts as a master regulator of the body's energy use.

By inhibiting miR-22, RES-010 is designed to "rewire" cellular metabolism. The therapy aims to increase the body's basal energy expenditure by boosting the activity of mitochondria—the powerhouses of cells—and promoting the conversion of energy-storing white fat into energy-burning brown fat. This mechanism promises not just weight loss, but a specific reduction in fat mass while preserving metabolically crucial lean muscle mass, a significant issue with many current weight-loss methods.

“I continue to be impressed with Resalis’ unique approach to treating metabolic disorders. RES-010’s potential to deliver fat-loss without loss of muscle mass or weight rebound, represents a new way forward in an area of high unmet medical need,” Dr. Batkai commented on his appointment. “The company’s first-in-class, non-coding RNA approach rewires cellular metabolism and increases the basal energy consumption, to produce a sustained reduction of fat mass lasting even after treatment interruption.”

RES-010 is currently being evaluated in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase 1 study in the Netherlands (EUCT No.: 2024-514871-17-00). The trial is enrolling up to 80 healthy lean, overweight, and moderately obese participants to assess the drug's safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetics. The study includes single and multiple ascending dose cohorts, with initial data expected to provide the first human validation of this novel approach.

Navigating a Crowded and Evolving Market

The market for obesity treatments is booming, but it is also dominated by a single class of drugs. While effective, GLP-1 agonists are associated with significant drawbacks, including gastrointestinal side effects, the loss of lean muscle along with fat, and a well-documented weight rebound effect once patients stop taking the medication. This has created a substantial market need for alternative or complementary therapies that can offer more durable and healthier outcomes.

Resalis's RES-010 enters a field where several companies are exploring non-GLP-1 mechanisms. Other firms, such as Wave Life Sciences and Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals, are also developing RNA-based therapies targeting different genes to induce fat loss while preserving muscle. This emerging class of therapeutics aims to offer a disease-modifying solution rather than just symptomatic treatment.

The unique mechanism of RES-010—targeting metabolic reprogramming rather than appetite—could position it as a powerful standalone therapy or as a complementary treatment to be used alongside GLP-1s. A combination could potentially enhance fat loss, mitigate muscle wasting, and provide a more sustainable long-term solution for patients managing chronic obesity.

Strong Backing for a High-Stakes Venture

Developing a novel drug is a capital-intensive and high-risk endeavor, but Resalis Therapeutics has secured robust financial and strategic backing. After an initial €10 million seed round in 2023, the company closed a €10 million Series A financing in early 2024, led by Sunstone Life Science Ventures.

Most significantly, in late 2024, global pharmaceutical leader Sanofi made a strategic equity investment in the company. The investment, a powerful vote of confidence in Resalis's science, is intended to accelerate the development of RES-010 through a Phase 2 proof-of-concept trial. This partnership not only provides crucial capital but also offers invaluable validation from a major player in the metabolic disease space.

With a seasoned RNA expert at the clinical helm, a novel drug candidate addressing key unmet needs in obesity care, and the financial and strategic support of major investors, Resalis Therapeutics is well-positioned to make significant strides. The upcoming data from the Phase 1 trial of RES-010 will be a critical milestone, eagerly watched by investors, competitors, and the medical community alike as a potential turning point in the future of metabolic health.