New medicines to help people lose weight safely and protect the pancreatic cells that control blood sugar
Official title: Development of novel therapeutics for obesity and type 2 diabetes
Funded at Emmyon, INC. · NIH-11378372 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A funding opportunity to develop a new pill that helps people lose weight without muscle loss and protects the insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Sbir 2 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Emmyon, INC. NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Rochester, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | August 1, 2025 |
| Project end | July 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $1,021,719 |
| NIH project number | 5R44DK142200-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11378372 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with obesity and/or type 2 diabetes who could benefit from weight loss and improved pancreatic beta-cell function.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without obesity or type 2 diabetes or those who may not tolerate the drug's effects or side effects may not benefit.
What this research studies
This grant supports advancing a promising weight-loss drug candidate, EM My1-25, from early studies to later-stage testing, with a focus on obesity and type 2 diabetes. The work involves medicinal chemistry, animal studies, and planning for human trials to ensure the drug is safe and effective for people living with adult-onset diabetes and obesity. If successful, it could lead to new options that improve weight management and pancreatic health, potentially reducing complications from diabetes. The project is led by Emmyon, Inc., with experts in obesity, diabetes, and drug development guiding the research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the new drug could offer meaningful weight loss benefits and stronger protection of pancreatic beta cells, potentially improving blood sugar control for people with obesity and type 2 diabetes.
How similar studies have gone: Earlier Phase I-equivalent work showed promising weight loss and beta-cell protection in mouse models, supporting progression to Phase II.
Where this research is happening
-
Emmyon, INC.
Rochester, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ebert, Scott Matthew — Emmyon, INC.
- Study coordinator: Ebert, Scott Matthew
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.