| Monoclonal antibody | |
|---|---|
| Type | ? |
| Source | Human |
| Target | ACVR2B |
| Clinical data | |
| Other names | BYM338 |
| Routes of administration | Intravenous |
| ATC code |
|
| Identifiers | |
| CAS Number | |
| ChemSpider |
|
| UNII | |
| KEGG |
|
| Chemical and physical data | |
| Formula | C6306H9732N1684O1990S46 |
| Molar mass | 142451.78 g·mol−1 |
Bimagrumab (BYM338) is a humanmonoclonal antibody first developed byNovartis[citation needed] and currently byEli Lilly to treat pathologicalmuscle loss andweakness. It binds to and inhibitsactivin receptor type-2B.[1]
Bimagrumab must be administeredintravenously at a hospital or clinic. The medication has a longhalf-life and is administered once a month.[2]
On August 20, 2013, it was announced that bimagrumab had received a breakthrough therapy designation for sporadicinclusion body myositis (sIBM) by the USFood and Drug Administration (FDA).[3]
In 2014, Bimagrumab entered Phase II development, with some research indicating clinical effects.[4] Novartis planned to apply in 2016 for FDA approval to treat sIBM patients with bimagrumab.[5]
In April 2016, Novartis announced that bimagrumab had failed a Phase IIb/III study for sporadic inclusion body myositis.[6] In January 2021, a new study confirmed that treatment with bimagrumab is safe and effective for treating excess adiposity and metabolic disturbances of adult patients withobesity andtype 2 diabetes.[7] Novartis then licensed the drug to Versanis Bio, a Medicxi Fund andAtlas Venture-backed startup, who closed a series A financing round to fund a phase II clinical program targeting weight loss in obese patients.[8][9] In January 2023 Versanis Bio entered the medication into phase IIb trials for obesity.[2] In July 2023, Eli Lilly bought Versanis Bio for their weight loss asset for $1.9 billion.[10] In 2025, a phase IIb study was concluded testing bimagrumab in combination withNovo Nordisk'ssemaglutide, demonstrating that the combination resulted in a greater loss of fat as a percentage of weight compared to semaglutide alone.[11] In September 2025, Eli Lilly terminated a phase IIb study investigating atirzepatide-bimagrumab combination in obese and type II diabetic patients.[12][13] A third phase IIb study of tirzepatide and bimagrumab in combination is ongoing as of September 2025.
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