Mission Opportunity Pipeline Team Contact us
Next-generation metabolic medicines

Advancing obesity therapeutics beyond GLP-1.

Coronation Bio is developing first-in-class treatments that target novel pathways — designed to deliver effective, quality weight loss without the gastrointestinal side effects that drive many patients off today's therapies.

Explore the pipeline The opportunity
>1B
people expected to be living with obesity by 2030
~$130B
projected global obesity drug market by 2030
2/3
of patients discontinue GLP‑1 therapy within one year
2
first‑in‑class programs targeting validated novel pathways
Our Mission

Effective weight loss, without the trade-offs.

Our goal is to provide patients with obesity treatments that target novel pathways — for better-quality weight loss without the GI side effects that limit today's standard of care.

There are 250+ obesity drugs in the global pipeline, yet the vast majority converge on the same gut-hormone biology. Coronation Bio was formed to address this gap, building on lead assets discovered at premier research universities.

Why new approaches are needed

  • GI adverse events are a major driver of GLP‑1 discontinuation
  • GLP‑1 discontinuations frequently result in a disproportionate regain of fat mass and loss of benefit
  • Emerging GLP‑1 therapies report similar or worse nausea and vomiting
  • Novel mechanisms are needed to keep patients on therapy and benefiting
The Opportunity

A vast, costly disease — and a standard of care many patients can't stay on.

Obesity is among the most prevalent and expensive chronic diseases in the world. GLP‑1 receptor agonists transformed the field, but their tolerability profile leaves a large unmet need.

A growing global epidemic

Roughly 1 in 8 people worldwide now live with obesity, and more than 1 billion are expected to by 2030. In the U.S., prevalence exceeds 40%.

An enormous cost burden

Obesity drives $170B+ in annual U.S. medical costs and underlies leading causes of death — heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes and certain cancers.

A market racing forward

The global obesity drug market is projected to reach ~$130B by 2030, with major pharma investing — yet nearly all assets target the same gut-hormone pathways.

The unmet need

Tolerability — not efficacy alone — keeps many patients from benefiting.

~2/3
of patients discontinue GLP‑1 therapy within one year
GI AEs
nausea & vomiting are a major driver of discontinuation
25–39%
loss of fat‑free (lean) mass on GLP‑1s, vs 10–30% with caloric restriction
Similar+
next‑gen oral & combo GLP‑1s report similar or worse GI effects
Pipeline & Science

Two first-in-class programs, two validated novel pathways.

Coronation Bio holds an exclusive license to a differentiated portfolio originated by the University of Pennsylvania and Syracuse University — each program designed to achieve GLP‑1‑level efficacy without GI-related side effects.

GPR75 Program
CB‑37
First-in-class GPR75 peptide inhibitor
About the target — GPR75

GPR75 was first identified as a key metabolic regulator that can provide protection from obesity through human genetics studies. Loss-of-function variants — observed in roughly 4 in 10,000 people — are associated with a 1.8 kg/m² lower BMI and 54% lower odds of obesity. This strong genetic validation makes GPR75 one of the most promising new obesity targets.

Akbari et al., "Sequencing of 640,000 exomes identifies GPR75 variants associated with protection from obesity." Science, 2 Jul 2021; 373(6550).

Validated human genetics

Loss-of-function of GPR75 is linked to lower BMI, reduced food intake, higher energy expenditure and liver-protective benefits — without GI effects.

Confirmed target engagement

Binding confirmed by MST and Cryo-EM. CB‑37 induces an allosteric shift that turns the receptor "off," producing pharmacologic loss of function.

Confirmed in vivo efficacy

Demonstrated weight loss in acute and chronic DIO mouse studies. Effect is lost in GPR75 knockout mice, confirming on-target activity.

Once-weekly profile Ready for IND-enabling studies
ODN / TDN Program
CB‑260
First-in-class gliotransmitter-based peptide
About the pathway — ODN / TDN

Octadecaneuropeptide (ODN) and its synthetic mimic TDN act through a distinct hindbrain gliopeptide pathway — separate from gut-hormone agonism. A recent ground-breaking publication in Science Translational Medicine highlighted the potential of TDN to induce weight loss without the gastrointestinal adverse events that limit current therapies.

Geisler et al., "Hindbrain octadecaneuropeptide gliotransmission as a therapeutic target for energy balance control without nausea or emesis." Science Transl. Med., 23 Jul 2025; 17(808).

A novel brain pathway

Built on octadecaneuropeptide (ODN), a naturally occurring anorexigenic gliopeptide in the hindbrain — a distinct mechanism from gut-hormone agonism.

From ODN to a drug candidate

TDN, a synthetic ODN mimic, reaches the brain after subcutaneous dosing. CB‑260 is the optimized, longer-acting candidate intended for once-weekly dosing.

Differentiated preclinical profile

Reduced food intake and body weight with enhanced glycemic regulation — without vomiting and with greater preservation of lean muscle mass vs GLP‑1.

Once-weekly profile Lead characterization work ongoing
Our Team

Leaders in metabolic science and biotech operations.

Our founding scientists and advisors are recognized leaders in neuroscience, psychiatry, pharmacology, physiology and molecular genetics.

Founding Scientists
Matthew Hayes, PhD
Matthew Hayes, PhD
Co-Founder & Founding Scientist
Albert J. Stunkard Professor in Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania

Dr. Hayes leads a research program at Penn focused on the neuroscience of energy balance and the central control of feeding. His work on hindbrain and gut–brain signaling and his research using rodent and shrew models support the biology behind Coronation Bio's CB‑260 and CB‑37 programs.

Robert Doyle, PhD
Robert Doyle, PhD
Co-Founder & Founding Scientist
Milton Professor in Chemistry, Syracuse University; SUNY Upstate Medical University

Dr. Doyle is a medicinal chemist specializing in peptide therapeutics for metabolic disease. His discovery work spans both the CB‑37 and CB‑260 programs that form Coronation Bio's pipeline.

Leadership & Board
Sapan Shah, PhD
CEO & Director
25+ years as CEO, founder and advisor across multiple biotechs
Veer Bhavnagri
Co-Founder, COO & Director
Former Co-Founder / GC, Allogene Therapeutics
Matt Tindall
Co-Founder & Director
CEO, Flightpath Bio
Rod MacKenzie CMG, PhD
Chair of the Board
Former EVP / Chief Development Officer, Pfizer
Scott Navins
CFO & Treasurer
Former Treasurer, Allogene Therapeutics
Scientific Advisory Board
Caroline Geisler, PhD
Advisor / Co-Inventor
Asst. Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Kentucky
Rudolph L. Leibel, MD
Advisor
Chief, Division of Pediatric Molecular Genetics, Columbia University
Michael Cowley, PhD
Advisor
Professor of Physiology, Associate Director of Research, Commercialisation and Innovation, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute
Scott Kanoski, PhD
Advisor
Professor of Biological Sciences; Co-Director, USC Diabetes & Obesity Research Institute
Randy Seeley, PhD
Advisor
Henry King Ransom Professor of Surgery, University of Michigan
Bart De Jonghe, PhD
Advisor
Professor of Nutrition, Penn Nursing, University of Pennsylvania
Morris J. Birnbaum, MD, PhD
Advisor
Former SVP, Internal Medicine Research Unit, Pfizer
Executive Advisors
Colleen Johnson, MSc, DABT
Toxicology Advisor
Owner, CDJ Tox
John Lamerdin, PhD
IP Counsel
Former Head of IP, Allogene Therapeutics
Get in touch

Building the next generation of obesity therapeutics.

Coronation Bio is advancing CB‑37 and CB‑260 toward the clinic. If you'd like to learn more or explore partnership opportunities, please contact us.