MetP Pharma releases positive data on intranasal semaglutide administration

Ella Day | July 22, 2025 | News story | Research and Development |  Diabetes, MetP Pharma, Neurology, Obesity, central nervous system, diabetes, obesity, peptides, semaglutide 

MetP Pharma has released new data highlighting the advantages of its MetP technology in delivering neuroactive peptides, particularly semaglutide, directly to the brain though the intranasal route. This opens up the possibility of the platform being used for a wide range of neuroactive therapeutics, from metabolic to neurodegenerative diseases.

The data demonstrates that the MetP platform significantly enhances the penetration of semaglutide though the central nervous system (CNS), enhancing the brain’s ability to mediate the drug’s weight-loss effects. Specifically, the technology allows rapid brain uptake, sustained CNS exposure and high brain-to-plasma ratio and minimal systemic exposure – potentially reducing peripheral side effects.

Currently, subcutaneous and oral formulations of semaglutide, widely used in weight-loss and diabetes care, are limited by poor oral bioavailability, gastrointestinal side effects, inconvenient administration and CNS penetration. Moreover, these methods are associated with muscle loss as a side effect. This makes administration directly to the brain more appealing.

The MetP technology “overcomes barriers by leveraging perineural and perivascular transport pathways, bypassing the blood-brain barrier and enabling direct, efficient brain delivery,” said Claudia Mattern, chief scientific officer of MetP Pharma.

MetP Pharma is a pharma and product development company based in Switzerland specialising in nose-to-brain drug delivery. It is developing intranasal therapeutics targeting conditions such as concussion, insomnia, ADHD, multiple sclerosis and hypogonadism.

Ella Day

22/7/25