Zula Therapeutics wins patent for leptin-based anorexia treatment

Zula Therapeutics said the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office issued a foundational patent covering leptin receptor agonists for anorexia nervosa, with exclusive rights tied to its University of Duisburg-Essen license. The company says the protection could run through 2045 and support efforts to develop the first FDA-approved medicine for the disorder.

Why it matters: - Zula Therapeutics now has an exclusive patent position around leptin replacement for anorexia nervosa. - The company says the protection could help finance and de-risk clinical development for a disorder with no approved FDA treatment. - The patent coverage extends beyond metreleptin to any leptin receptor agonist, widening the potential commercial scope.

What happened: - The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office issued U.S. Patent No. 12,651,658, titled "Methods for Treating Anorexia Nervosa and Related Conditions by Administering a Leptin Receptor Agonist." - Zula Therapeutics announced that it holds exclusive rights under its license with the University of Duisburg-Essen. - Zula said the patent gives the company exclusive protection for leptin-based treatment of anorexia nervosa through 2045. - Zula said the patent supports its plan to pursue partnerships needed to develop the first FDA-approved medicine for anorexia nervosa.

The details: - The patent is based on research from Professor Johannes Hebebrand and co-inventors, who identified leptin deficiency as a driver of anorexia nervosa rather than a result of starvation. - Hebebrand’s weight loss-induced entrapment theory links weight loss to lower circulating leptin levels caused by reduced adipose tissue mass. - An investigator-initiated randomized controlled trial of metreleptin in anorexia nervosa is underway at University Hospital Zurich under Dr. Gabriella Milos, a co-inventor on the patent. - The Zurich trial, listed on ClinicalTrials.gov as NCT06305182, started in 2024 and is scheduled to complete enrollment in 2026. - Metreleptin is not approved by the FDA for anorexia nervosa. - Hebebrand said the issued patent could help translate the research into a therapy that can be adopted globally.

Between the lines: - The patent gives Zula a stronger intellectual-property base at a time when investors and partners often look for clear exclusivity before backing psychiatric drug development. - The Mount Sinai collaboration suggests Zula is moving from patent ownership toward trial design and execution in the U.S. - Patient advocates are signaling that biological approaches to eating disorders may be gaining more attention as treatment options remain limited. - NEDA said the new patent could help attract investors and philanthropists needed to fund the next stage of clinical trials.

What's next: - Zula said it will work with the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai’s Center of Excellence in Eating and Weight Disorders on clinical studies of leptin replacement in severe anorexia nervosa. - The Mount Sinai team is running a philanthropic fundraising campaign to support that work. - Hildebrandt said the goal is to conduct the first clinical trials designed to support an FDA submission in New York. - Zula’s next major milestone will likely be moving from patent-backed research into formal trials that can support regulatory review.

The bottom line: - Zula has secured a key patent that could anchor the first commercial path for leptin replacement in anorexia nervosa, but the treatment still needs rigorous clinical proof before it can reach patients.