Drug developers have long pursued the elusive goal of safely increasing energy expenditure to treat metabolic conditions and obesity. Leiden-based Cantoni Therapeutics is hoping to achieve this goal with its novel small molecule inhibitors of nicotinamide N-methyltransferase (NNMT), which have the potential to treat obesity and improve metabolism without loss of muscle mass.

The promise of the technology and pathway is something that attracted Annegret Van der Aa, PhD, to take up the role of CEO and executive director of the company last year. With a long history of research and drug development at companies like Galapagos, where she helped bring the successful drug Jyseleca (filgotinib) to market for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and later, inflammatory bowel disease, Van der Aa

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