Molecule Ecosystem, October 2023
Autonomous Science Funding: AthenaDAO's Ovarian Aging Study, the Coming GLP-1 Pipeline and Vitalia's Tropical Longevity Popup City
AthenaDAO autonomously mints their second IP-NFT
AthenaDAO has autonomously minted their second IP-NFT. This underscores the potential of open science technology, where any researcher, DAO or individual can hold intellectual property rights on-chain. Using Molecule’s IP-NFT, AthenaDAO has successfully funded Dr. Joshua Johnson's research into ovarian aging - a field of study with profound implications for women's health and fertility.
By providing Dr. Johnson with $102,495 in funding, AthenaDAO secures licensing rights to the intellectual property, showcasing a thriving ecosystem where technology meets transparency to foster scientific discovery.
The Upgraded IP-NFT
Molecule recently released a major frontend upgrade for its IP-NFT interaction UI (mint.molecule.to). It’s now using the latest dependency versions of Chakra and wagmi under the hood, which results in slightly more consistent transaction previews. Molecule also improved support for transactions that originate from Safe wallets. Try it out here.
Vitalia.City
Announcing Vitalia.city! Zuzalu.city was a big success, paving the way for Vitalia.city - a two-month event from Jan 6 - Mar 1, 2024. Focused on promoting life extension technologies, Vitalia emphasizes healthy co-living. Gathering 200+ entrepreneurs, artists, scientists, and innovators on the Caribbean island of Roatán, it offers activities like mini-conferences, co-working spaces, and biohacking experiments. With longevity at its core, Vitalia aims to challenge restrictive biotech regulations by establishing zones for medical innovation in Latin American countries. More information can be found on their website.
Watch Laurence Ion present Vitalia at The Network State Summit in Amsterdam:
VitaDAO In The Spotlight
VitaDAO becomes the first DAO to launch a biotech company, MatrixBio.
VitaDAO launched Matrix Biosciences, seeded with $300,000. MatrixBio will focus on treatments for cancer and aging-related diseases, leveraging research into naked mole rats. MatrixBio will also use Molecule’s IP-NFT and IPT framework to fundraise for asset development, and will be among the first companies to do so. This milestone comes from a community-wide vote and approval in favor of a collaboration with Dr. Vera Gorbunova, Ph.D., Co-Chair of the University of Rochester’s Aging Research Center.
VitaDAO launched its Members Portal
If you are a Vita token holder, VitaDAO’s Members Portal allows you to take advantage of exclusive member benefits, link multiple wallets for an overview of your VITA holdings, and explore active and past governance proposals - all in one place. Moreover, VitaDAO’s Members Portal also gives Vita holders discounts on health products such as GlycanAge’s biological age tests. Visit the members portal here to start exploring.
Berlin Science Week
Berlin Science Week is taking place from 1 - 10 November 2023. As part of Science Week, GreenPill Germany is hosting a DeSci event where our own Stefan Adolf will be giving a talk on 'Programmable IP to Mitigate Human Suffering.' Join us this Saturday 4 November at 16:30, to watch Stefan’s talk. Register here.
DeSci Community Conference at DevCon
On Nov 13th DeSci goes to DevCon Istanbul! This conference is hosted in partnership with Protocol Lab’s LabWeek and will cover "Enterprise DeSci: Life Science Standards, Compliance & Bridging DeSci & Legacy Health Innovation." Workshops will feature discussions on aligning DeSci with life science industry standards, compliance challenges, and the convergence of decentralized science with existing health innovation systems. Panels will provide insights into practical strategies for this integration. To participate and learn more, visit the event link here.
Molecule of the Month
A potent medication not only enhances peoples’ quality of life but also possesses the potential to transform an economy. Novo Nordisk’s weight-loss drug semaglutide has taken the world by storm, and catapulted the company to a $436 billion market cap. So, how does it work?
GLP-1 agonists such as Semaglutide (brand names Victoza, Ozempic or Wegovy) mimics a hormone called GLP-1, which regulates blood sugar levels and slows down the rate at which food leaves the stomach. When artificially introduced into the body, the molecule signals to the brain that the stomach is full, even when it isn't. This leads to reduced calorie intake and, ultimately, weight loss. While the drug has been popularized recently as an obesity treatment, GLP-1-mimicking therapeutics have been around for some time as diabetes treatments. So why did this particular weight loss drug gain traction where others didn't? It's largely because of its unparalleled margin of success; a 2021 study showed that patients who received a semaglutide injection once a week could sustain a 15% weight loss. There’s a caveat, however… If patients discontinued the medication, they often regained the weight. Whether or not you believe the model is sustainable, it's impossible to overlook the dramatic financial impact of the drug - even junk food stocks have dipped in what's referred to as the ‘GLP-1 overhang’!
The excitement around semaglutide and its impact is just the tip of the iceberg in the realm of GLP-1 therapies. The pharmaceutical industry is bracing for a wave of innovative GLP-1 analogues and combination therapies that could redefine the treatment landscape for obesity and diabetes. Researchers are pushing the envelope, seeking formulations that not only match the efficacy of semaglutide but also offer improved dosing regimens, enhanced tolerability, and better patient adherence. The coming years will likely see a robust pipeline of these drugs, each with the potential to capture a slice of the market and contribute to the collective effort of tackling metabolic diseases. This heralds a promising era for patients and healthcare providers alike, signaling a shift towards more holistic and effective management of chronic conditions that afflict millions globally.
The burgeoning field of GLP-1 based therapeutics is not just a playground for big pharma; it's a dynamic research frontier for numerous academic and research institutions worldwide. Universities and medical research centers are delving into the intricacies of the GLP-1 pathway, often in collaboration with industry giants. These institutions are pivotal in advancing our understanding of the hormone's role in metabolism and its therapeutic potential.
Notably, research facilities with a strong focus on endocrinology and metabolic diseases are spearheading these efforts. They are exploring novel GLP-1 receptor agonists and their potential applications, as well as looking into the hormone's multifaceted role in human physiology. This collaborative ecosystem ensures a steady stream of innovation, with institutions ranging from Ivy League universities to specialized research institutes contributing to the expanding knowledge pool. This is where academia and industry intersect, propelling GLP-1 research and ultimately, patient care, forward.
Many nutrient-stimulated hormone-based antiobesity therapies are in late phases of development — including dual and triple therapies with glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs), glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) agonists, glucagon, and amylin AKA islet amyloid polypeptide (IAPP). These new therapies will all undoubtedly have an impact on human longevity and DAOs like VitaDAO are closely following these developments and the data generated.
Thanks for Reading!
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As we continue to work towards a different era of drug discovery, our focus for this year is to incubate and launch more BioDAOs, fund more IP-NFTs, synthesize IP Tokens out of IP-NFTs, and continue to connect web3 to the real world - Let’s build!