Inside Helicore Biopharma’s obesity therapeutics patent portfolio

Helicore Biopharma has emerged as a notable player in obesity therapeutics research through its work on neutralizing the glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide, or GIP. Backed by a $65 million Series A financing, the company is developing a portfolio of antibody-based drug candidates that pursue an alternative biological approach to existing incretin-based treatments.

Helicore operates as a clinical-stage biopharma company with a clear mission, to discover and develop next-generation weight-loss therapeutics using a biologic mechanism that neutralizes the gut hormone GIP. GIP is a hormone produced in the gut in response to food intake, particularly fats and carbohydrates. It plays a key role in stimulating insulin secretion and regulating fat storage, making it an important target in metabolic and obesity research. Helicore’s approach involves antibodies that bind circulating GIP ligands, preventing it from activating its receptor, rather than targeting the receptor itself.

Acquisition of assets from 9 Meters Biopharma

Helicore Biopharma emerged from the bankruptcy of 9 Meters Biopharma, a Raleigh–based biotech that ceased operations and filed for Chapter 7 protection in July 2023. Rather than relying on traditional licensing, Helicore secured its initial assets through the bankruptcy process.

In late 2023, the company acquired rights to the preclinical obesity program NM-136, a GIP antagonist candidate, through a court-supervised Section 363 auction of 9 Meters’ assets. The deal gave Helicore the foundation for its lead program, now renamed HCR-188, and allowed the company to move quickly toward clinical development. NM-136 was originally known as LOB-0136 and was acquired by 9 Meters from Lobesity in 2021.

Before its collapse, 9 Meters reported that the USPTO had allowed claims covering the program, later issued as U.S. Patent No. 11,400,135. The patent covers use of the drug for hyperphagia, obesity and related metabolic disorders, as well as for reducing fat accumulation in organs. Company executives had described the asset as having significant potential across metabolic diseases.

Helicore is now advancing HCR-188, which binds circulating GIP ligands, while developing a modular antibody drug conjugate platform targeting different obesity and metabolic disease subpopulations. The company is also exploring combination strategies with established therapies such as GLP-1 receptor agonists used in diabetes and obesity.

Helicore’s current pipeline

Helicore is advancing a differentiated portfolio of obesity therapeutics anchored by a proprietary strategy of GIP-ligand antagonism. This approach underpins a lead monoclonal antibody currently in clinical evaluation, as well as a modular platform designed to create next-generation antibody conjugates for diverse metabolic profiles. Here are Helicore’s current pipeline assets: HCR-188, HCR-488, and HCR-588/-688.

HCR-188: Lead GIP-ligand antagonist

Helicore’s lead program, HCR-188, is a first in class humanized monoclonal antibody designed to bind and neutralize circulating GIP ligands, blocking receptor activation and offering an alternative to receptor targeted obesity therapies.

In March 2025, Helicore reported dosing the first participant in a first-in-human Phase 1 trial of HCR-188 in overweight or obese adults without type 2 diabetes. The randomized, double blind, placebo controlled study includes single and multiple ascending dose arms and is evaluating safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and metabolic and biomarker effects such as GIP levels, lipids, glucose, and caloric intake.

At trial initiation, the company said meaningful weight loss was unlikely during the short multiple ascending dose period given the GIP antagonism mechanism. No public statements have since reported final safety or efficacy data. The clinical trial registry for the study, NCT06845943, continues to list the status as “Suspended,” with the option to restart. The most recent update is dated November 21, 2025, while earlier records were verified on November 1, 2025, leaving the public record unclear and without disclosed safety or efficacy results.

Modular antibody-conjugate platform

Beyond its core antibody program, Helicore is developing a modular platform that combines GIP ligand antagonism with other metabolic mechanisms using antibody conjugate engineering. The approach is intended to enable combination constructs, including GIP antibody conjugates paired with GLP-1 based therapies, to improve efficacy, refine pharmacologic profiles, and address patient subgroups that respond variably to current obesity treatments.

HCR-488: Long-acting incretin conjugate

Positioned as the first follow-on candidate from the modular platform, HCR-488 is an incretin conjugate that leverages the company’s GIP-binding antibody as a backbone carrier for a secondary metabolic modulator. This design is intended to extend the half-life of the conjugated payload, potentially enabling a monthly dosing regimen, a significant convenience advantage over current weekly injectables. As of late 2025, HCR-488 was slated to enter preclinical development, with the company aiming to position it for patients requiring both potent weight loss and the convenience of less frequent administration.

HCR-588 and HCR-688: Next-generation discovery assets

Expanding the platform further, Helicore is advancing earlier-stage assets designated HCR-588 and HCR-688. These programs represent the next wave of “incretin conjugates,” designed to explore different combinations or linker technologies to address diverse obesity phenotypes. HCR-588 is currently in the discovery phase and is expected to transition into formal preclinical development in 2026. HCR-688, although no phase listed from the official status page, is assumed to remain in the early discovery stage, further validating the modularity of the company’s approach to creating a broad portfolio of GIP-based therapeutics.

Forward development path

With the Phase 2 trial of HCR-188 underway, the company is seeking to complete the SAD and MAD study to evaluate safety, pharmacology, and biomarker effects. Based on those results, including immunogenicity, PK and PD, and metabolic outcomes, Helicore plans to advance additional clinical or preclinical programs built on its modular antibody conjugate platform.

If HCR-188 shows acceptable safety and tolerability along with encouraging biomarker or metabolic signals, it could support the development of combination therapies or next generation GIP based agents aimed at specific obesity phenotypes.

Acquired patents from 9 Meters Biopharma

In addition to its obesity programs, Helicore Biopharma has acquired patents covering the use of GIP modulation in postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome. The patent family, titled “Compositions and methods for treating postural tachycardia syndrome,” includes U.S. Patent Application No. 2025/0353905 and European Patent No. 4,536,272. The filings describe the therapeutic use of GIP in mild to severe POTS, a condition marked by abnormal increases in heart rate upon standing, and note potential relevance for patients with hypermobility spectrum disorders or hypermobile Ehlers Danlos syndrome. The claimed methods aim to reduce presyncopal symptoms such as lightheadedness, tachycardia, mental clouding, and palpitations.

The patents focus on monoclonal antibodies that bind and neutralize circulating GIP ligands, as well as peptide antagonists of the GIP receptor. The U.S. application describes multiple humanized antibody sequences with high affinity binding and outlines potential Fc region modifications to improve pharmacologic performance. Administration is described primarily as subcutaneous injection, including self administration, with flexible dosing schedules ranging from fixed intervals to symptom triggered use, including around meals. Described unit doses range from about 10 mg to 500 mg.

U.S. Patent App. No. 2025/0353905 was filed on June 5, 2023, and published on November 20, 2025 with Helicore Biopharma as the listed applicant. The application is still awaiting grant approval. The patent lists Nir Barak, Sireesh Appajosyula, and Patrick H. Griffin as the inventors. The filing was represented by Marta Delsignore, Kevin Canning, Douglas Kline, et al. of Goodwin Procter LLP.

European Patent No. 4,536,272 on the other hand was filed on June 5, 2023, and was published on April 16, 2025. It originated with 9 Meters Biopharma, but is now assigned to Helicore Biopharma and is currently awaiting grant approval. The same inventors from the U.S. patent are listed with Nicholas Bassil of Kilburn & Strode LLP representing Helicore for the filing.

Intellectual property expansion opportunities

As HCR-188 moves through early clinical development, additional intellectual property opportunities are likely to emerge. Beyond core composition of matter patents, human clinical data can support new filings covering dosing regimens, pharmacokinetics, biomarkers, or patient selection strategies. Such filings are consistent with established pharmaceutical patent practice, which allows protection for newly identified therapeutic uses and optimized clinical applications.

Method of treatment claims are a common route for post Phase 1 patent filings. If early studies identify specific dosing schedules, administration intervals, or patient subgroups with differentiated responses, those findings can underpin new patent claims. Biomarker and pharmacokinetic data may further support claims directed at defined clinical settings or treatment approaches.

Combination strategies may also generate patentable subject matter. Data from HCR antibody programs could point to combinations with other metabolic agents or to administration strategies not previously disclosed. Where these approaches reflect a novel therapeutic rationale or a distinct clinical benefit, they may support method of use or combination therapy claims.

Additional opportunities may arise from formulation, manufacturing, and delivery innovations. As development progresses, advances in antibody stability, long acting delivery, or production processes could be separately patentable and contribute to broader program protection.

Industry precedent shows that biologic drugs often accumulate a significant portion of their patent estates after early clinical or regulatory milestones. Method of use, formulation, and manufacturing patents frequently complement composition of matter claims to extend exclusivity. In this context, early clinical work on HCR-188, HCR-488, HCR-588, and HCR-688 could open multiple paths toward building a layered and defensible IP portfolio.