Wuxi NextCode partners with Rhythm to treat rare Obesity Genetic Disorders

Global standard platform for genomic data, Wuxi NextCode announced partnering with Rhythm to develop and commercialize therapies aimed to treat rare genetic disorders of obesity. Rhythm seeks to apply the learning capabilities ensuring identification of vital genetic markers for rare metabolic syndromes enabling optimization of Rhythm’s investigational compounds. The first phase of the partnership involved mining WuXi NextCODE’s knowledgebase of all major reference datasets to identify all rare sequence variants in the POMC, PCSK1, and LEPR genes in the MC4R pathway to regulate weight by surging expenditure of energy and lowering appetite.  WuXi NextCODE’s advanced artificial intelligence (AI) laboratory then applied its proprietary DeepCODESM algorithm to score the variants for their predictive impact on obesity. Testing people living with obesity for the highest impact variants in these genes may enable the identification of those who may be candidates for treatment with therapies developed to target the MC4R pathway, as well as to the extensive interpretation of the mechanisms through which this pathway surges chances of obesity.

Hannes Smarason, the Chief Executive Officer of WuXi NextCODE commented “We are also very excited to take the next steps in this partnership, and are applying the breadth of our capabilities, from large-scale cohort validation to functional assays, to help advance Rhythm’s clinical development programs. This is important work in the context of rare disease more broadly and we are proud to be a part of it.”