- Phase III is intended to generate meaningful biological data on potential drug compounds prioritized by YuvaBio's classifier, which applies proprietary machine-learning methods to identify candidates targeting muscle preservation through improvements in mitochondrial function.
- Experimental work designed to identify candidates that may upregulate ANT1, a key gene involved in metabolic function and muscle integrity.
- Phase III is expected to accelerate discovery on small-molecule candidates which may promote mitochondrial health and support muscle preservation: using an exclusive dataset on mitochondrial biogenesis, the AI prioritization focuses experimental testing on the most promising candidates, reducing the number of compounds advanced for subsequent development.
NEWPORT BEACH, Calif., Dec. 17, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- NorthStrive Biosciences Inc. ("NorthStrive Biosciences"), a subsidiary of PMGC Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:ELAB) ("PMGC" or the "Company"), today announced the initiation of Phase III of its AI Development Program ("AI Development Program") with Yuva Biosciences, Inc. ("YuvaBio") under the Development and License Agreement ("Agreement") between the parties. Phase III will advance AI-driven compound identification in Phase II of the AI Development Program to experimental validation, marking a significant step towards advancing NorthStrive Biosciences' pipeline of therapies addressing obesity and related metabolic conditions.
Phase III is intended to build on the results of Phase II, in which YuvaBio used its proprietary mitochondrial science-focused artificial intelligence platform, MitoNova, to identify a shortlist of small-molecule candidates, prioritized through computational screening, with potential to promote mitochondrial health and support muscle preservation. This is a concern of growing importance in obesity treatment, particularly for patients using GLP-1 receptor agonists. YuvaBio will now begin generating biological data on these AI-selected compounds, including cytotoxicity screening and ANT1 expression testing at multiple timepoints. Phase III is expected to take approximately 6 to 9 weeks.
About Yuva Biosciences, Inc.
Yuva Biosciences, Inc. is a biotechnology company leveraging mitochondrial science and advanced artificial intelligence to identify and develop therapeutic candidates targeting aging-related and metabolic pathways. Its proprietary AI platform, MitoNova, integrates biological, chemical, and mitochondrial-function datasets to accelerate the discovery of compounds with potential to improve cellular energy, metabolic health, and tissue function. YuvaBio is headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama. For more information, please visit www.yuvabio.com.
About Northstrive Biosciences Inc.
Northstrive Biosciences Inc., a PMGC Holdings Inc. company, is a biopharmaceutical company focusing on the development and acquisition of cutting-edge aesthetic medicines. Northstrive's lead asset, EL-22, leverages an engineered probiotic approach to address obesity's pressing issue of preserving muscle while on weight loss treatments, including GLP-1 receptor agonists. For more information, please visit www.northstrivebio.com.
About PMGC Holdings Inc.
PMGC Holdings Inc. is a diversified holding company that manages and grows its portfolio through strategic acquisitions, investments, and development across various industries. Currently, our portfolio consists of four wholly owned subsidiaries: Northstrive Biosciences Inc., PMGC Capital LLC, Pacific Sun Packaging, Inc., and AGA Precision Systems LLC. We are committed to exploring opportunities in multiple sectors to maximize growth and value. For more information, please visit https://www.pmgcholdings.com.
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