What Northstrive Biosciences does

NorthStrive Biosciences is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing engineered probiotic therapeutics that aim to preserve lean muscle mass during weight loss, with particular focus on patients using GLP-1 receptor agonists. The company's lead asset, EL-22, is an orally administered engineered Lactobacillus casei expressing modified human myostatin antigens that elicits an immune response producing anti-myostatin IgG antibodies, thereby inhibiting myostatin — a negative regulator of muscle growth. EL-22 has completed a Phase I study in 37 healthy adult volunteers in Seoul, South Korea, demonstrating a favorable safety and tolerability profile. A second candidate, EL-32, is a dual-action probiotic targeting both myostatin and activin-A pathways and entered a preclinical diet-induced obesity mouse model study in March 2026 to evaluate combination therapy with semaglutide.

The underlying technology combines microbiome engineering with immune-mediated protein inhibition, a mechanism distinct from direct antibody or small-molecule myostatin inhibitors. NorthStrive also pursues an AI-driven drug discovery program in collaboration with Yuva Biosciences (currently in Phase III validation), using classifier models to identify small-molecule candidates for mitochondrial health and muscle preservation. The company is filing aggressively on the IP side, with patent applications spanning human pharmaceutical indications (sarcopenia, muscle disuse atrophy, GLP-1-induced muscle loss) and animal health applications (livestock, aquaculture, poultry).

NorthStrive operates a dual-track business model. It retains human therapeutic rights internally and intends to monetize through licensing/royalty arrangements, milestones, and sublicensing. Animal health rights for EL-22 and EL-32 have already been licensed exclusively (excluding South Korea) to Modulant Biosciences, with NorthStrive receiving milestone payments and royalties on commercial sales. A separate licensing arrangement with Korean biotech MOA Life Plus covers human clinical development milestones. The company is pre-revenue on commercial product sales and is a wholly-owned subsidiary of PMGC Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ: ELAB).

Name

Northstrive Biosciences

Legal name

NorthStrive Biosciences, Inc.

Website

https://northstrivebio.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

NorthStrive Biosciences is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical subsidiary of PMGC Holdings developing engineered probiotic therapeutics (EL-22, EL-32) that activate the immune system to preserve lean muscle mass during GLP-1 weight loss, monetizing via licensing and royalties.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Obesity Biopharmaceuticals

NAICS

Biological Product (except Diagnostic) Manufacturing (325414), Pharmaceutical Preparation Manufacturing (325412), Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714), Animal Food Manufacturing (31111)

SIC

Biological Products, (No Disgnostic Substances) (2836), Pharmaceutical Preparations (2834), Agricultural Prod-Livestock & Animal Specialties (200)

akta.pro primary industry

Protein Engineering & Directed Evolution Platforms (enzyme/therapeutic protein optimization) (HLAAAIAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Livestock & Production Animal Therapeutics (Rx) (HLAMAEAB), Non-Antibiotic Health & Performance Supplements (Immune, Gut Health, Stress/Heat Support) (AFADALAO), Nutraceuticals & Functional Ingredients for Animal Diets (Probiotics, Omega-3, Joint, GI) (HLAMAHAH)

Keywords

• Engineered probiotic therapeutics
• Muscle preservation biopharmaceuticals
• Obesity treatment development
• Clinical-stage biotech research
• GLP-1 adjunct therapies

Headquarters

HQ city

Newport Beach

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. Licensing and Royalty Revenue: The company generates revenue through licensing agreements for its proprietary technologies. NorthStrive retains human therapeutic rights while licensing non-human animal health applications to partners. Revenue is expected from milestone payments, royalties on commercial sales, and sublicensing arrangements.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Marketing channels2 records

Core offering

NorthStrive Biosciences is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing engineered probiotic therapeutics for muscle preservation during weight loss treatments. Its lead candidate, EL-22, is an orally administered Lactobacillus casei engineered to express modified human myostatin antigens, eliciting anti-myostatin IgG antibodies to preserve lean muscle mass in patients on GLP-1 receptor agonists. A second candidate, EL-32, targets both myostatin and activin-A pathways. The company retains human therapeutic rights and licenses non-human animal health applications to partners.

Product overview

NorthStrive Biosciences is a biopharmaceutical company developing a pipeline of engineered probiotic therapeutics targeting muscle preservation during weight loss treatments. The company's lead product is EL-22, a clinical-stage myostatin-inhibiting probiotic that has completed Phase 1 in healthy volunteers and is positioned for obesity treatment in combination with GLP-1 receptor agonists. EL-32 is a dual-action candidate targeting both myostatin and activin-A pathways. Both products leverage a novel mechanism of activating the body's own immune system to inhibit myostatin, addressing the significant muscle loss (up to 40% of weight loss) associated with GLP-1 drugs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• EL-22 Clinical-stage orally administered engineered probiotic (Lactobacillus casei) expressing modified human myostatin antigens. Activates the body's immune system to produce anti-myostatin IgG antibodies, preserving lean muscle mass during weight loss in patients on GLP-1 receptor agonists. For biopharmaceutical partners and future obesity patients.
• EL-32 Dual-action engineered probiotic therapeutic targeting both myostatin and activin-A pathways for muscle preservation in patients undergoing GLP-1 receptor agonist weight loss therapy. Includes microorganism-based formulations involving lactic acid bacteria. For biopharmaceutical partners and obesity patients.

Quantifiable outcome

• Phase I clinical trial completed in 37 healthy adult volunteers showing good safety and tolerable profile
• +1 more outcomes

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability1 record

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• MOA Life Plus Co., Ltd.coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 March 2026Third amendment to licensing agreement with Korean biotech company MOA Life Plus to update development milestones for clinical programs EL-32 and EL-22. Development focuses on muscle preservation during weight loss treatments including GLP-1 receptor agonists. PMGC made a monetary payment upon execution of the amendment.
• Yuva BiosciencescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 December 2025AI-driven drug discovery collaboration in Phase III validation stage. The program aims to validate small-molecule candidates targeting mitochondrial health and muscle preservation for obesity treatment. Results expected in Q2 2026 after Yuva deployed improved sixth-generation classifier models for more refined compound selection and comprehensive in-vitro validation.

Scale indicators4 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• BioAge Labs: Clinical-stage company developing therapeutics targeting the biology of aging, with active programs in obesity and muscle preservation. Comparable to NorthStrive in addressing muscle preservation during weight loss and metabolism, focused on small-molecule and biologic approaches.
• Scholar Rock: Clinical-stage biotech developing apitegromab, a leading myostatin-targeting antibody for muscle preservation. Directly comparable to NorthStrive in targeting the same myostatin pathway for muscle-wasting and obesity-related indications, with similar mechanism goals though delivered via injectable biologic rather than oral probiotic.

Broad incumbents

• Eli Lilly: Global pharmaceutical leader with Zepbound (tirzepatide) in the GLP-1 obesity market and active research into muscle-preserving combinations. Relevant as the dominant incumbent whose product NorthStrive's EL-22 is positioned to complement, and which could become either a licensing partner or competitive threat.
• Novo Nordisk: Manufacturer of Wegovy and Ozempic, the leading GLP-1 receptor agonists driving the muscle-loss concern NorthStrive addresses. Most relevant broad incumbent setting the standard of care that NorthStrive's adjunct therapeutic would pair with.
• Regeneron Pharmaceuticals: Major biotech with extensive antibody platform and historical work on myostatin-related pathways. Relevant as a broad incumbent with the resources and IP portfolio that could either compete with or partner around NorthStrive's muscle-preservation thesis.

Emerging players

• Viking Therapeutics: Clinical-stage biotech advancing VK2735, a dual GLP-1/GIP agonist for obesity. Comparable as an emerging obesity-focused player whose next-generation mechanisms could either compete with or create partnership opportunities for muscle-preservation combination therapies.
• Structure Therapeutics: Developer of oral small-molecule GLP-1 receptor agonists for obesity. Comparable to NorthStrive in pursuing oral, needle-free alternatives in the obesity space, representing both a parallel innovation approach and a potential combination partner.
• Moolec Science: Animal health biotech using molecular farming to produce animal proteins in crops for livestock and aquaculture. Comparable to NorthStrive's animal health vertical where Modulant is developing EL-22/EL-32 for livestock, aquaculture, and poultry applications.
• Keros Therapeutics: Clinical-stage biotech developing engineered proteins targeting TGF-beta superfamily members including activin-A. Directly comparable to NorthStrive's EL-32 dual-action mechanism that targets both myostatin and activin-A pathways for muscle preservation.
• Insmed Incorporated: Biopharmaceutical company developing protein therapeutics with proprietary manufacturing platforms. Comparable to NorthStrive in the biologic/protein therapeutic space and in advancing novel biologics through clinical development, though focused on pulmonary and rare diseases.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/Northstrivebio

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Northstrive Biosciences