MTM Portfolio company Melio Bio, based in our London Pod, has been awarded the 2025 Pioneer Group / Novo Nordisk Golden Ticket . This highly competitive UK-based prize, established by Novo Nordisk and the Pioneer Group, is designed to accelerate innovation in cardiometabolic health and rare blood and endocrine disorders by providing early-stage biotech companies with critical resources and industry expertise.

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The Golden Ticket Advantage

Winning the Golden Ticket provides Melio Bio with a host of benefits, including:

• 12 months of rent-free lab and office space at Victoria House, London’s premier life sciences incubator in the heart of the Knowledge Quarter.

• Mentorship and strategic guidance from Novo Nordisk’s world-class drug discovery and development experts.

• Investment support and access to the Pioneer Group’s extensive biotech network and funding opportunities.

Zoë Johnson, MTM CSO and co-founder/executive chair of Melio Bio, commented:

“We are thrilled and honored to have been selected as a winner of the Pioneer Group and Novo Nordisk Golden Ticket Program. This recognition validates our pioneering work at Melio Bio and provides a transformative opportunity to accelerate our vision of developing next-generation molecules for cardiometabolic disease.”

“The early-stage support and mentorship from Novo Nordisk’s leading pharma experts will be invaluable as we refine and strengthen our approach. This collaboration will allow us to drive meaningful innovation and deliver novel solutions to patients worldwide.”  

Beyond Incretins: The Need for Novel Cardiometabolic Therapeutics  

While GLP-1 receptor agonists such as semaglutide have revolutionized the treatment of obesity and type 2 diabetes, significant unmet medical needs remain. Not all patients respond to incretin-based therapies, and many experience side effects, including nausea, gastrointestinal discomfort, and muscle loss. Furthermore, while these treatments are effective in weight reduction, they do not address all aspects of metabolic dysfunction, such as hepatic steatosis, insulin resistance, and cardiovascular risk beyond glycemic control.

This highlights the urgent need for novel targets and mechanisms of action to provide alternative and complementary approaches to treating obesity, metabolic-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD, formerly NAFLD), and cardiometabolic disorders.

GPR75: A Breakthrough Target for Obesity and MASLD

Recent genetic and preclinical studies have identified G protein-coupled receptor 75 (GPR75) as a highly promising target for obesity and metabolic disease. Notably:

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• Human genetic studies have shown that individuals with loss-of-function mutations in GPR75 exhibit significantly lower body weight and reduced risk of obesity.

• Preclinical models indicate that modulating GPR75 activity can lead to substantial improvements in weight control, insulin sensitivity, and lipid metabolism.

• Emerging research suggests that GPR75 inhibition could be beneficial in treating MASLD, a disease with limited therapeutic options despite its growing global prevalence.

By focusing on GPR75 modulation, Melio Bio is pioneering a novel approach that could offer a first-in-class therapy targeting obesity, MASLD, and broader metabolic dysfunction.

Fueling the Future: Melio Bio’s Fundraising and Growth

The support from Novo Nordisk and Pioneer Group marks a significant milestone in the growth trajectory not only of Melio Bio’, but also of the broader MTM ecosystem. As part of MTM’s expansion, we are actively raising funds to accelerate:

• Drug discovery and preclinical development of next-generation cardiometabolic therapies.

• Advancement of our AI-driven informatics platform, which enhances target identification and drug optimization.

• Expansion of our London-based operations, including the establishment of a second UK innovation hub.

Through a combination of grant funding, venture investment, and strategic partnerships, we aim to scale our research capabilities and bring groundbreaking treatments closer to patients in need.

Shaping the Future of Cardiometabolic Medicine

Winning the Golden Ticket is not just an accolade—it is a launchpad for scientific discovery, groundbreaking innovation, and impactful drug development. With Novo Nordisk’s expertise, access to world-class facilities, and an expanding research team, Melio Bio is well-positioned to advance next generation therapies for cardiometabolic health.

At MTM, we believe that collaborative intelligence and world-class science drive transformative medicine. This latest recognition underscores our mission to turn exceptional research into breakthrough therapeutics.

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