BioAge Appoints Renowned Cardiologist and Biopharma Entrepreneur Michael H. Davidson, MD, to its Board of Directors

April 09, 2024 at 08:00 AM EDT

New board member brings deep expertise in cardiometabolic research, clinical development, and building successful biotech companies

BioAge Labs, Inc., ("BioAge"), a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing novel therapies for obesity and metabolic diseases by harnessing the biology of aging, today announced the appointment of Michael Davidson, MD to the company's board of directors.

"We are delighted to welcome Michael to BioAge's board of directors," said Kristen Fortney, PhD, CEO and co-founder of BioAge Labs. "His expertise as a physician and researcher in the field of cardiometabolism, deep experience in clinical development, and track record leading multiple successful companies will be invaluable to BioAge as we advance our lead compound azelaprag into a Phase 2 trial in combination with tirzepatide for the treatment of obesity."

Davidson is CEO of NewAmsterdam Pharma (Nasdaq: NAMS), a late-stage biopharmaceutical company developing transformative, clinically validated oral therapies for patients with metabolic diseases.

Previously, Davidson founded and led several innovative biotech companies, including Corvidia Therapeutics, which was acquired by Novo Nordisk in 2020 for $2.1 billion, and Omthera Pharmaceuticals, acquired by AstraZeneca in 2013 for $443 million. He also founded the Chicago Center for Clinical Research, which became the largest clinical trial center in the US before being acquired by Pharmaceutical Product Development.

Davidson is a practicing physician board-certified in internal medicine, cardiology, and clinical lipidology. A pioneering researcher in preventive cardiology and lipidology, he has coordinated over 1,000 clinical trials, published more than 350 peer-reviewed articles, and authored three books on lipid disorders. He holds a BA and MS from Northwestern University and an MD from The Ohio State University College of Medicine.

"I'm excited to join the board of BioAge at this pivotal juncture, as the company progresses azelaprag into Phase 2 trials in obesity," said Davidson. "Azelaprag has immense potential to amplify the weight loss benefits of incretins, and critically, to prevent the deleterious consequences of significant weight loss, especially in older adults. BioAge's approach of targeting biological drivers of aging to treat metabolic disorders is highly innovative. I look forward to working with the team to bring this promising therapy to patients in need."

About BioAge Labs, Inc.

BioAge is a clinical-stage biotechnology company that is harnessing the biology of human aging to develop novel targets and therapies for metabolic diseases. The company’s lead program, azelaprag, is a potential first-in-class oral APJ agonist that promoted muscle metabolism and prevented muscle atrophy on bed rest in a Phase 1b trial. In mid-2024, BioAge plans to initiate a Phase 2 trial of azelaprag in combination with tirzepatide for the treatment of obesity in older adults. Azelaprag has the potential as an oral regimen to amplify weight loss and improve body composition in patients on obesity therapy with incretin drugs. BioAge’s preclinical programs address key pathways in metabolic aging, based on novel insights from its discovery platform built on human longevity data.