MetaShape Pharma
MetaShape Pharma AG is a Switzerland-based preclinical biotech developing MS 001, an oral PNP inhibitor designed to amplify GLP-1 obesity therapy by increasing fat-specific energy expenditure while preserving muscle mass. The company is pre-revenue, preparing a US$10M Series A, and targets eventual out-licensing to pharmaceutical partners.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2023
- HeadquartersRiehen, Switzerland
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What MetaShape Pharma does
MetaShape Pharma AG is a Switzerland-domiciled preclinical biopharmaceutical company founded in 2023 and headquartered in Riehen (Basel), developing first-in-class metabolic therapies for obesity and cardiometabolic disorders. Its lead and only product candidate, MS 001 (ulodesine hemiglutarate), is an oral small-molecule inhibitor of purine nucleoside phosphorylase (PNP) designed to act as a metabolic amplifier for GLP-1 receptor agonists such as semaglutide and tirzepatide. Mechanistically, MS 001 inhibits PNP to preserve NAD+ precursors, elevating inosine and NAD+ levels in white adipose tissue and activating fat-selective energy-expenditure pathways — including futile calcium cycling and glucagon signaling — intended to drive selective fat loss, preserve lean muscle mass, and reduce weight regain after GLP-1 therapy is discontinued.
The underlying technology is a patent-pending novel salt form of ulodesine (a compound previously evaluated in over 500 human subjects with a generally safe and well-tolerated profile), with composition-of-matter and method-of-use patent applications expected to provide protection into the early 2040s. Preclinical data presented at ADA 2026 showed that low-dose MS 001 combined with semaglutide produced greater weight loss, preserved muscle, and reduced weight regain versus semaglutide alone in diet-induced obese mice. The company's scientific advisory group includes Professor Shingo Kajimura (Harvard Medical School/HHMI), an authority on human bioenergetics and futile calcium cycling, alongside collaborators at UCLA, Washington University, Mayo Clinic, and the National University of Singapore.
MetaShape has no commercial product, no disclosed revenue, and a headcount of 1–10. Its business model contemplates advancing MS 001 through clinical proof of concept — with initial efficacy data targeted for 2029 — either independently or via licensing/partnership with larger pharmaceutical companies, with revenue intended to come from upfront licensing fees, milestone payments, and royalties. The company is currently preparing a US$10 million Series A financing to fund this path and is actively presenting at scientific and investor conferences (ADA Scientific Sessions, Swiss Biotech Day, Longevity Investors Conference) to build visibility with potential pharma partners and investors.
MetaShape Pharma firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- MetaShape Pharma
- Legal name
- MetaShape Pharma AG
- Website
- https://metashapepharma.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2023
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- MetaShape Pharma AG is a Switzerland-based preclinical biotech developing MS 001, an oral PNP inhibitor designed to amplify GLP-1 obesity therapy by increasing fat-specific energy expenditure while preserving muscle mass. The company is pre-revenue, preparing a US$10M Series A, and targets eventual out-licensing to pharmaceutical partners.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
MetaShape Pharma industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Obesity Therapeutics
- NAICS
- Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714), Scientific Research and Development Services (5417)
- SIC
- Pharmaceutical Preparations (2834), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Cardiometabolic Pharmaceuticals (Cardiovascular/Diabetes/Obesity) (HLAIAAAE)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Drug Discovery (Target ID/Validation & Hit Discovery) (HLAIALAA)
Keywords
Where MetaShape Pharma is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Riehen
- HQ country
- Switzerland
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
MetaShape Pharma business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations
Revenue model
- Drug Development and Licensing: MetaShape Pharma is a preclinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing MS 001 for obesity and cardiometabolic disorders. The company plans to advance MS 001 through clinical development via a planned $10 million Series A financing, with the intent to either independently develop through clinical proof-of-concept or partner/license with larger pharmaceutical companies. Revenue would be generated through licensing deals, milestone payments, and eventual product sales if approved.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Marketing channels4 records
MetaShape Pharma product offering
Product offeringCore offering
MetaShape Pharma develops MS 001 (ulodesine hemiglutarate), a first-in-class oral small-molecule inhibitor of purine nucleoside phosphorylase (PNP) intended as a metabolic amplifier for GLP-1 receptor agonists in the treatment of obesity and cardiometabolic disorders. The compound elevates NAD+ and inosine levels to drive fat-selective energy expenditure via futile calcium cycling, preserving muscle mass and reducing weight regain. The company is preclinical-stage and intends to license or partner MS 001 with larger pharmaceutical companies for late-stage development and commercialization.
Product overview
MetaShape Pharma is developing MS 001 (ulodesine hemiglutarate), a first-in-class oral small-molecule drug and metabolic amplifier designed to work alongside GLP-1 receptor agonists (such as semaglutide and tirzepatide). The product reprograms fat metabolism to enhance fat-selective weight loss, preserve muscle mass, and reduce weight regain following GLP-1 discontinuation, addressing key limitations of current GLP-1 monotherapies. The company is a preclinical-stage biopharma focused on obesity and cardiometabolic disorders, with MS 001 as its lead and only product candidate in pre-IND development.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- MS 001 (ulodesine hemiglutarate) First-in-class oral small-molecule inhibitor of purine nucleoside phosphorylase (PNP) designed as a metabolic amplifier for GLP-1 receptor agonists. Increases fat-specific energy expenditure via futile calcium cycling and glucagon-signaling pathways in white adipose tissue, preserving muscle mass and reducing weight regain in obesity and cardiometabolic disease treatment. Patent-pending novel salt form of ulodesine.
Quantifiable outcome
- Up to 40% of weight lost with GLP-1 receptor agonists consists of lean muscle mass (Linge et al., 2024)
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use MetaShape Pharma
Customer profileSegments1 record
Ideal customer profiles3 records
MetaShape Pharma technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
MetaShape Pharma partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Professor Shingo Kajimura (Harvard Medical School/BIDMC)keyMetaShape Pharma entered into a consulting agreement with Professor Shingo Kajimura, a world-leading authority in human bioenergetics and adipose tissue biology, to advise on the development strategy of MS 001. Professor Kajimura is Investigator at Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI), Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School, and Faculty Member at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC). He will guide the development of MS 001 as a first-in-class oral PNP inhibitor for obesity treatment.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
MetaShape Pharma competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Novo Nordisk:
- Eli Lilly: Global pharmaceutical leader and incumbent in the GLP-1 obesity market (Zepbound/Mounjaro); sets the standard MetaShape's MS 001 is designed to complement and is the most likely large-pharma partner or acquirer.
Direct peers
- Keros Therapeutics: Clinical-stage biotech developing therapeutics targeting the TGF-β superfamily for hematological and cardiometabolic disorders, including obesity-related indications; comparable stage, size, and disease focus to MetaShape.
- Rivus Pharmaceuticals: Clinical-stage biotech developing controlled metabolic accelerators (e.g., HU6) for obesity and cardiometabolic disease via increased fat-specific energy expenditure—the same mechanism thesis as MetaShape's MS 001, making it the most directly comparable peer.
- Terns Pharmaceuticals: Clinical-stage biotech developing oral small molecules for obesity (e.g., TERN-601, a GLP-1R agonist), competing in the same oral obesity drug space that MetaShape targets for cardiometabolic indications.
- Structure Therapeutics: Public clinical-stage biotech developing oral small-molecule GLP-1R agonists (e.g., aleniglipron) for obesity and type 2 diabetes—same disease space, oral small-molecule approach, and cardiometabolic focus as MetaShape.
- Altimmune: Clinical-stage biotech developing peptide-based therapeutics for obesity and liver diseases, including pemvidutide for obesity—a peer pursuing a complementary mechanism (GLP-1/glucagon dual agonist) in the same metabolic disease category.
Emerging players
- BioAge Labs: Clinical-stage biotech developing therapeutics targeting the biology of aging and metabolic disease, including obesity-relevant pathways—overlaps with MetaShape's NAD+ / metabolic amplifier thesis and targets similar patient populations.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
MetaShape Pharma social profiles
Digital presenceMetaShape Pharma financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
MetaShape Pharma leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles12 records
MetaShape Pharma funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
MetaShape Pharma M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about MetaShape Pharma
What does MetaShape Pharma do?
MetaShape Pharma develops MS 001 (ulodesine hemiglutarate), a first-in-class oral small-molecule inhibitor of purine nucleoside phosphorylase (PNP) intended as a metabolic amplifier for GLP-1 receptor agonists in the treatment of obesity and cardiometabolic disorders. The compound elevates NAD+ and inosine levels to drive fat-selective energy expenditure via futile calcium cycling, preserving muscle mass and reducing weight regain. The company is preclinical-stage and intends to license or partner MS 001 with larger pharmaceutical companies for late-stage development and commercialization.
Is MetaShape Pharma a public or private company?
MetaShape Pharma is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was MetaShape Pharma founded?
MetaShape Pharma was founded in 2023. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is MetaShape Pharma based?
MetaShape Pharma is headquartered in Riehen, Switzerland, in the Europe region.
How does MetaShape Pharma make money?
One revenue line is on record: drug Development and Licensing.
Who are MetaShape Pharma's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly. Direct peers are Keros Therapeutics, Rivus Pharmaceuticals, Terns Pharmaceuticals, Structure Therapeutics and Altimmune. BioAge Labs is listed as an emerging player.
Does MetaShape Pharma have an API?
No public API is recorded for MetaShape Pharma.
What industry is MetaShape Pharma in?
MetaShape Pharma's product category is Obesity Therapeutics. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAIAAAE, Cardiometabolic Pharmaceuticals (Cardiovascular/Diabetes/Obesity), with a secondary code of HLAIALAA, Drug Discovery (Target ID/Validation & Hit Discovery). Its NAICS code is 541714 and its SIC code is 2834.