Welcome to the conference call. For the first part of the conference call, the participants will be in listen-only mode. During the questions and answers session, participants are able to ask questions by dialing pound key five on their telephone keypad. Now I will hand the conference over to the speakers. Please go ahead.
Good morning, everybody. Welcome to our Q1 investor call. I will go through a couple of highlights of the first quarter and then hand over to the team to continue. A quick reminder, Gubra operates via a business model involving three distinct but synergistic business units. We have our Biotech unit where we discover and develop peptide therapeutics, and we have a validated platform with multiple obesity assets in clinical development. We have our CRO, where we provide preclinical research services to external and internal customers. We have also now established Gubra Ventures, where we invest in high-quality science adjacent to our core areas. Given I've recently received question, I also want to be clear that Gubra Ventures is not a corporate venture fund.
Coming out a record year, 2025, we have started 2026 with great momentum in our biotech pipeline. A few recent events. In the beginning of the year, we have started to expand our facilities here in Hørsholm at the DTU Science Park. We are significantly expanding our lab facilities, which is beneficial to our internal discovery group, but as well as our CRO, that we can do more studies in the future. We have strengthened our clinical leadership with the recruitment of Thomas. Thomas is our Chief Development Medical Officer. Given we will focus on clinical development of multiple assets in parallel in the future, this is an important step for the company.
We have also progress on partner programs, like Amylyx has selected a drug development candidate and is moving into IND-enabling studies. That's good news. We have also launched Gubra Ventures, Zoë Johnson has started in March to drive this forward. In terms of our clinical pipeline, we have submitted GUB-UCN2 clinical trial application for an ambitious phase I/II-A trial. This is very exciting. This asset is a major opportunity for the company. On our partnered asset, there is also great progress. AbbVie released ABBV-295 phase I MAD data. 10% weight loss within 12 weeks in predominantly male and non-obese populations is actually very promising, and you will hear more about that later in the call.
Boehringer Ingelheim last week also announced that the triple agonist will move into phase II by middle of the year. AbbVie will proceed with the 295 phase II in Q3 2026. This is quite exciting. We will have two Gubra-discovered assets in phase II this year and also starting the phase I trial for UCN2. Great momentum in the biotech pipeline. This is our leadership team. You have seen most of them already. On the lower panel, you see the top talent which has joined us in the first quarter. In March, Grigo in February, and Thomas in January. We'll not talk about our upgrade of digital strategy, but it may be a topic for the future.
Obviously, it's very important for us as well that our systems and AI strategy matches our goals and vision for the future. I spend a moment talking about our business model because our three business units create one integrated value creation model. We have our Biotech unit, where our core discovery and development unit sits. It is clearly validated. We have three potential obesity blockbuster assets in clinical development. We greatly benefit from the CRO by doing most of our preclinical work internally. There's great synergy and also scientific synergy between the units. The CRO is a standalone commercial unit. It's operational and structurally independent and serves a large number of external customers, both on the biotech and pharma segment.
Obviously, it's great that we also have business coming from our own biotech research and also from the ventures in the future. Our new Ventures will greatly benefit from the other units. Of course, we have immediate access both to capabilities on the Biotech side, in the Biotech unit, as well as access to doing studies for the pre-clinical development of venture assets as well. On top of that, our core functions support our new Ventures, which are asset-centric companies, which we operate. All together we have value creation through faster pipeline progression, a broader and more resilient portfolio, and a structured capital allocation across the company. We also have different paths to monetization and timing with that business setup.
We believe this setup also sets us apart in terms of agility and resilience compared to other companies in the market. We are also clear about where we play. The CRO plays in the preclinical discovery segment. The biotech unit covers everything from discovery till early clinical development. Phase I-B/II-A is our sweet spot, which we use to partner our assets with pharma partners. On the ventures we are a little bit more flexible depending on the needs of our strategic and financial partners. Generally, that will be assets just prior clinical development and enabling studies till also phase II. With this I hand over to our biotech leadership and our CSO, Louise.
Yeah. Thank you, Markus. Just trying to make the camera work. Let's take a look at the streaMLine platform and how it enables our growing pipeline. At Gubra, we're peptide experts. We discover novel peptide-based drug candidates either alone or with a partner. All our work is powered by our in-house developed drug discovery platform, streaMLine. Using this platform, we can quickly go from idea to a novel IP-protected development candidate. The platform takes advantage of AI and machine learning, which is combined with high-throughput wet lab screening of multiple peptide libraries. We use multi-parameter optimization, which saves time and enables the identification of better molecules faster. The strength of our streaMLine drug discovery platform is reflected across both our internal and partner pipeline. UCN2, a proprietary muscle preserving program, originates directly from the platform.
ABBV-295, a long-acting amylin analog, now out-licensed to AbbVie, is another example of the platform's ability to deliver clinically differentiated candidates. Our collaborations with Amylyx, Camurus, and Hemab further validate the platform's reproducibility and track record of generating differentiated peptide assets across therapeutic areas. Since our last update, we have made important progress across the pipeline, including the CTA submission for UCN2 asset. We've also seen strong progression in our partnered clinical-stage obesity programs. AbbVie reported positive top line phase I MAD results for ABBV-295, and they plan to advance the program into phase II in Q3. In addition, Boehringer Ingelheim has decided to move the obesity triple agonist into phase II in mid-2026. Together, this positions us to have two partnered assets entering phase II in 2026.
At Gubra, we have been dedicated to understanding and treating obesity since the company's inception, and over the years we've built deep scientific expertise in this field, from early discovery to clinical translation. Today, I'll highlight three of our most advanced obesity assets, each designed with a differentiated profile compared to current standard of care and with blockbuster potential. Before getting into the details, let me take a step back and look at the broader obesity landscape and where the field is heading. Obesity continues to be a growing health challenge with a well-recognized need for novel treatment approaches. While current therapies can deliver substantial weight loss, lean body mass, primarily muscle, bones, and connective tissue, accounts for approximately 20%-45% of the weight loss. We believe that the next generation of treatments will increasingly focus on the quality of the weight lost.
In other words, maximize fat mass loss while preserving or even increasing lean muscle mass. Differentiation will likely also come from improved tolerability, multi-target strategies, and the ability to address comorbidities. Gubra's pipeline is strategically positioned to meet these emerging trends. First, we have the long-acting amylin analog, ABBV-295, now out-licensed to AbbVie. A key differentiator of the amylin class is the potential to deliver clinically meaningful weight loss with a favorable tolerability profile, supporting the growing focus on better-tolerated obesity treatments. Secondly, we have the triple agonist developed in partnership with Boehringer Ingelheim. This asset reflects the trend towards multi-target approaches with potential to enhance efficacy through simultaneous engagement of three receptors. Finally, we have the next in line UCN2 program. This program builds on a novel mode of action.
UCN2 is designed to address the emerging focus on body composition with the potential to decrease fat mass while preserving lean mass and function in combination with weight management therapy. Let's take a closer look at these programs, starting with the long-acting amylin analog in development for obesity. A key highlight this quarter was AbbVie reporting positive top-line results from the phase I multiple ascending dose study. In this study, once weekly dosing with 295 demonstrated a clinically meaningful weight loss of almost 10% after only 12 weeks of treatment. Importantly, comparable weight loss was also observed with less frequent dosing, including every other week and once monthly dosing, really highlighting the potential here for dosing flexibility. 295 demonstrated a favorable tolerability profile at all dose levels. Adverse events were predominantly GI related, mild, and transient.
Taken together, these results are encouraging and support the potential of 295 to deliver a robust weight loss with a favorable tolerability profile, really further underscoring its potential as a differentiated therapeutic option in the evolving obesity treatment landscape. The program is now advancing in a phase I-B study in obese patients aiming for higher female population, and the phase II program is expected to begin Q3 this year. Additionally, we have the triple agonist developed in partnership with Boehringer Ingelheim for the treatment of obesity. This long-acting first-in-class asset targets the GLP-1, the GIP, and the Y2 receptors to engage complementary pathways involved in body weight regulation. Following encouraging phase I results showing a meaningful weight loss and a favorable safety profile, Boehringer Ingelheim has decided to advance the program into phase II clinical development mid-year.
We see this as further validation of the asset's potential, as well as of Gubra's scientific innovation and partnering capabilities. With that overview, I'll now hand over to Thomas, our CDMO, who will provide further details on our UCN2 program.
Yeah. Thank you, Louise. UCN2 is Gubra's next mega program based on the differentiated mechanism of action of urocortin 2, our drug candidate GUB-UCN2 has the potential to address really key unmet medical needs in metabolic and cardiorenal indications. Native UCN2 belongs to the family of corticotropin-releasing hormones and is a highly selective endogenous agonist of the CRH receptor 2. This receptor is expressed in multiple relevant tissues and mediates the effect of UCN2. In the adipose tissue, UCN2 administration results in an acute lipolytic effect. Longer-term receptor activation results in a reduction of fat content of adipocytes and reduction of adipose tissue inflammation. In the skeletal muscle, which is the main target tissue of UCN2, the protein facilitates protein synthesis, anabolic effects, and at the same time inhibits catabolism.
In addition, UCN2 improves mitochondrial function and oxidative metabolism, resulting in increased fat oxidation and improved muscle quality. Based on these physiological effects of UCN2, administration of GUB-UCN2 is expected to result in both increased muscle volume and improved muscle function. Cardiovascular effects of UCN2 include vasodilation, including a reduction of pre and afterload, which, along with a positive inotropic effect, result in improved cardiac output. In addition, UCN2 elicits anti-fibrotic effects, which are thought to improve maladaptive fibrotic remodeling of the heart following injury. Renal benefits of UCN2 are less well studied, but the expression of the receptor in the renal vasculature and proximal tubules suggests a potential renal benefit based on improved renal perfusion. Similar to the heart, anti-fibrotic effects could also contribute to improvement of renal fibrotic remodeling in the context of chronic kidney disease.
Our drug candidate GUB-UCN2 is a 38 amino acid peptide engineered for high CRH receptor 2 selectivity and extended half-life, supporting once-weekly subcutaneous administration in humans. GUB-UCN2 has been comprehensively characterized in preclinical studies, including preclinical pharmacology studies in a high-fat diet-induced obese rats. This slide summarizes results from a study in DIO rats demonstrating that GUB-UCN2 selectively decreases fat mass and restores semaglutide-induced lean mass loss. The graph on the left-hand side shows the effect on fat mass. GUB-UCN2 alone drives a significant reduction in fat mass represented by the green bar. In combination with semaglutide, GUB-UCN2 demonstrates an additive effect on fat mass reduction, as shown by the blue bar. This reduction in fat mass was achieved while preserving and even improving lean mass, as shown by the green bar in the middle graph.
The loss of lean mass with semaglutide, demonstrated by the purple bar, was really prevented when GUB-UCN2 was co-administered with semaglutide, as shown by the blue bar. As expected with this mechanism of action, GUB-UCN2 resulted in an improved body composition and maintenance of semaglutide treatment-related weight loss, as shown in the graph on the right-hand side. Based on a compelling preclinical package, we are now planning to enter clinical development in the second half of this year. As indicated earlier, our drug product candidate possesses the desired pharmacological and PK characteristics to support once-weekly subcutaneous dosing. Based on its mechanism of action, we expect favorable effect on body composition with an increase in muscle and decrease in fat mass alongside with an improvement of muscle quality when administered alone or in combination with incretin-based therapy.
As a consequence, we believe that GUB-UCN2 has the potential to improve muscle function and physical performance. We therefore target obesity drug-induced muscle loss as the first indication. Beyond that, and based on potential favorable effects on insulin sensitivity and also glucose homeostasis, as well as cardiac and renal function, we believe that GUB-UCN2 has very broad expansion potential into metabolic and cardiovascular indications. We plan to discuss details of the planned trial and development strategy in a GUB-UCN2 focused R&D day following initiation of dosing in the clinic.
However, to provide an outlook already today, we are planning to execute a very ambitious phase I/II-A trial in approximately 188 participants with the intent to investigate safety, tolerability, and initial efficacy of GUB-UCN2 with regards to effects on muscle volume and muscle function, which we believe are very relevant and important endpoints for the indications we are pursuing. We are also investigating that as a monotherapy or in combination with incretin-based therapy. With that, I'm concluding on the UCN2 section and hand over to Zoë, our Head of Gubra Ventures.
Thank you, Thomas. Good morning. Gubra Ventures is our value accelerator, the newest business unit designed to amplify what the group already does exceptionally well. Ventures is a deliberate extension of Gubra's capabilities into external asset creation and company building, leveraging external capital with the group's scientific infrastructure as a competitive differentiator. Why ventures? The strategic logic for ventures rests on four pillars. First, shots on goal. Our biotech pipeline is focused and disciplined, there are validated biological hypotheses and external asset opportunities that fall outside of our core pipeline prioritization. These opportunities are where we're hunting for ventures. Second, disease and technology area expansion. The economic and innovation landscape is evolving rapidly. New biology, new modalities, new competitive dynamics. Some of the most interesting opportunities sit adjacent to our current focus in metabolic disease and immunology and inflammation.
Ventures gives us a vehicle to explore those adjacencies with appropriate risk ring-fencing. Third, return on investment. Ventures is designed to generate financial returns through future exits, licensing, M&A, or standalone value creation. This is a capital allocation story as much as a scientific one, and the BD and M&A levers are central to how that value is ultimately realized. Fourth, market intelligence. By actively building in emerging areas, we stay close to the market, to competitive signals, and to where the field is moving. In this way, the three business units leverage synergies from early target exploration right through to clinical development. The bottom line is that Ventures will build companies based on externally sourced assets, using external capital where necessary, and Gubra's infrastructure to deliver pipeline optionality, strategic intelligence, and financial return. Why is Gubra uniquely positioned today? Why us? Why now?
The answer is that two things are converging. Gubra's platform is maturing. We have peptide discovery capabilities, optimization platforms, translational pharmacology, and deep metabolic disease biology that took years to build. At the same time, the innovation landscape is shifting. Many innovative ideas and programs are undercapitalized, positioned poorly, or spun out without the scientific infrastructure to advance incredibly. That's exactly where Gubra Ventures can add value. We bring genuine scientific differentiation to bear on externally sourced assets. The key discipline here is moving beyond obesity in a structured way, expanding into adjacent disease areas where our CRO, peptide, and platform expertise give us a real edge, not just a financial position. In terms of risk architecture, I just want to spend a moment here because it's obviously front of mind.
The right way to think about venture risk is at the portfolio level, not the individual venture level. Each venture will sit somewhere on three risk axes: scientific risk from novel biology through to validated pathways, technology risk from new modalities through to proven formats, and clinical risk from early discovery and preclinical stage through to clinical stage assets. No single venture needs to be low risk across all three dimensions. What matters is the portfolio in aggregate is diversified across those axes. A higher risk scientific bet may be paired with a more validated technology format, or a novel biology program might be at clinical stage. The portfolio construction logic manages exposure at the group level. This is a meaningful departure from how individual biotech companies think about their pipelines, and it's one of the structural advantages of the ventures model.
We're not betting on one asset, we're building a diversified basket of ventures, each lean and asset centric with Gubra infrastructure underpinning all of them. Finally, the collaboration model, and this is the heart of what I'm talking about and where the capital efficiency story lives. Ventures will be deliberately lean. We're not building a standalone infrastructure from scratch, and each venture company will access shared Gubra resources, CRO models, and translational capabilities from Gubra CRO, peptide expertise and AI-driven discovery platforms from Gubra Biotech streaMLine infrastructure and development functions, including clinical development, CMC, and toxicology. Core group functions will be shared across the organization. What this means in practice is that a ventures company can operate with a fraction of the fixed cost base of a standalone biotech while accessing capabilities that most early-stage companies spend years and significant capital to build.
That's our structural edge. Our CRO in particular is perceived by external partners as a key value enabler for ventures, and it makes the proposition credible and commercially attractive. To summarize, Gubra Ventures is a capital efficient, scientifically differentiated vehicle for external asset creation and company building. It's built on Gubra's existing strengths and structured to deliver pipeline optionality, market intelligence, and financial returns. We're at an early stage in the journey, and we're being deliberate about how we build, and we'll share more on pipeline sourcing, first ventures, and capital structure as those conversations mature. I'll hand over to my colleague, Trine, to talk about Gubra CRO. Thank you.
Thank you for that, Zoë. As Markus and Zoë mentioned, the CRO remains a core value enabler for Gubra. We have a strong track record of stable growth in both revenue and EBIT over the years. This has always laid a solid foundation, financial foundation for Gubra. The CRO is considered a scientific leader by our customers. Our strategic direction to expand on that position is clear. We still see volatility in the market. It is recovering slower than expected. Demands remained soft, especially in U.S. and among biotech, small biotech companies. Since Q4 2025, we have had a sequential improvement of 25% on top line growth. We are not where we need to be. We still experience longer decision cycles and increased competition on standard studies.
Despite this market outlook, we remain cautiously optimistic about a gradual recovery during the second half of 2026. We are encouraged by improving commercial signals and early indications of more activity across selected large pharma accounts and within obesity and MASH segments. To leverage this momentum and to get back to growth, we have one clear priority, which is to double down on commercial execution. We are expanding our presence in U.S., including an expansion of our sales team with 20%, and we're accelerating the launch of our women's health and sarcopenia platforms. We are also leveraging a key trend to use AI and machine learning in development of our services.
This has always been an instrumental part of our way of working for years in 3D imaging and 2D histology. We also leverage these technologies in our operational excellence efforts to digitalize our workflows end to end. The CRO has a strong differentiated service portfolio. We're serving 17 of the largest pharma companies globally. They work with us because they know we can consistently deliver complex models at scale, high quality and unbiased data. We can deliver at speed with flexibility and excellent scientific guidance. We always strive to be ahead of the curve, focusing on our world-class models and highly specialized technologies.
Our newly launched models in women's health and sarcopenia are clear examples of that, and very soon we will also be launching a new service focused on advanced behavioral analysis. As mentioned, our women's health platform is an example of where we are ahead of the curve. There is a huge unmet need in the entire women's health area, and we're driving innovation in this area, leveraging our preclinical models and advanced 3D imaging capabilities. We've already made strong progress in this area, and we position Gubra as a leading preclinical CRO in PCOS, polycystic ovary syndrome, POI, primary ovarian insufficiency, and menopause. As part of that progress, our 3D imaging team has developed an advanced whole organ imaging platform with absolute vertical quantification and capability, a capability that we believe can be meaningful, raising the standards for reproductive biology and toxicology research.
This is an important as it enables a more complete and precise evaluation of ovarian tissue than conventional approaches has been able to do. This has a clear potential to significantly improve preclinical decision-making across both women's health and broader safety assessment programs. We are already expanding commercial engagement across the market from specialist biotech companies to large pharma companies are increasing their focus on women's health. Taking together our differentiated models, expanding customer dialogues, and unique image expertise position us well to become a premium partner in preclinical compound evaluation for PCOS, POI, and menopause over the coming years. Now I will hand it over to you, Kristian, presenting the financial outlook results and outlook.
Thank you, Trine. Let's start with the results in the first quarter and the biotech business. As you can see here, you know, we had an improvement in the first quarter, mainly driven by milestone from the Amylyx collaboration. This is also what you see in different quarters, you know, when we receive milestones, the results can be a bit lumpy, as it also was last year in a very positive fashion. We also had, as I said, this milestone in the first quarter firing up the revenue, and that was also the reason behind the improvement in earnings compared to the same quarter last year. Turning to the CRO business. Here we saw a strong improvement compared to Q4 last year. Revenue increased by around 26%.
However, a small decline compared to same quarter last year. The main growth driver continues to be obesity, you know, where Gubra is really strong. But as Trine also said, you know, there's still macroeconomic uncertainty that continue to weigh on especially smaller biotech clients and longer decision cycles. Similar trend on earnings, an improvement in the first quarter, turning a small loss in Q4 into a small profit in the first quarter of 2026. Again, we want to be at different level when we conclude the year 2026 and with the initiatives and the trends that Trine spoke about just before. Rounding off with the outlook and guidance. The biotech guidance unchanged on the cost we guide for.
In the CRO segment, we've reduced our growth expectation slightly. Now we expect growth of 0%-10% revenue growth for external revenue. Importantly, also, with the business unit structure, we also sell internally services from the CRO business to the biotech segment that we expect to be around DKK 50 million. That's on top of the external revenue. With that, we have concluded our presentation and now open up for questions.
The next question comes from Thomas Bowers from SEB. Please go ahead.
Yes, thank you very much. A couple of questions. Firstly, maybe just to kick off with UCN2, can you maybe elaborate a little bit on the reasons behind the, you would say, longer than normal CTA process here? Should we interpret this purely as extended regulatory discussions around, for example, trial endpoints? Or is there anything in regards to the preclinical or tox-related data that have been a concern, maybe requesting additional data? Second to that, what's your level of confidence in initiating the trial here in second half? Are we likely looking at Q3 rather than Q4?
Lastly, on UCN2, so in regards to the U.S. market, clear guidance from FDA in regards to that 5% weight loss guidelines, with UCN2, you are likely limited somewhat with the incremental weight loss as monotherapy. Do you see a viable path here without any new guidelines? Also in addition to that combination with, for example, incretin, should we expect UCN2 to demonstrate incremental weight loss on top of GLP-1? Do you think a combination compared to placebo should be more than sufficient? Thank you.
Thank you very much, Thomas. Actually, Thomas will answer those questions.
Yeah. Thank you for the questions. These were multiple questions, but let me go through them one by one. The first question related to the start of the clinical trial. The clinical trial application is still under review by the health authority, which is BfArM in Germany and the associated ethics committee. This is not unusual for a trial of the complexity that I presented earlier in the slide. Yeah. Remember this is a combined phase I/II-A trial, where we essentially combine two trials in one single clinical trial protocol with the appropriate patient populations and the appropriate endpoints to really achieve clinical proof of concept.
That results essentially in a very complex documentation with regards to key trial documents and administrative documents, particularly the clinical trial protocol, the informed consent form, and administrative documentation. For that reason, there are clarifying questions in particular on the protocol and on the ICF from the BfArM and the ethics committee that we are now addressing and discussing with the agency. Nonetheless, we anticipate approval of the clinical trial application in time for trial initiation in the second half of 2026. With regards to the second question related to body weight. Here just a reminder that GUB-UCN2 is not developed as an obesity drug.
We do see really the advantage and the benefit for patients with this mechanism of action and the fact that we can favorably influence body composition. We can avoid that patients experience a loss of lean and muscle mass and can drive basically preservation of muscle function with this mechanism of action. We expect that we have an additive effect on fat mass loss, but would not see the drug being positioned within the obesity market. From that perspective, we do see that UCN2 would be used in combination with incretin-based therapies.
We have tested basically multiple incretin-based therapies and actually demonstrated that GUB-UCN2 is effective on top of those, and I just have shown you the semaglutide data today in the presentation. For indication expansions into other metabolic cardiovascular indications, there is of course the opportunity to evaluate UCN2 as a monotherapy. Based on the data that we are planning to generate in the clinical trial, I think we have then all options to explore the further positioning of UCN2 in the market. Thank you.
Thank you. Can I just follow up just maybe just as a reminder or I have noted where you disclosed it, but in the trial design of UCN2, are you also planning to already include a combination with incretin in the phase II-A part?
We would be actually discussing that at the R&D day, yeah, which we initiate then after approval of the clinical trial, and then we'll discuss really details, yeah, not only of the trial, but also with regards to the strategy, right, and how we view positioning of the drug candidate in the context of the clinical trial design.
Great. Thank you very much.
The next question comes from Suzanne van Voorthuizen from Kempen. Please go ahead.
Hi team, this is Susanne from Kempen. Thanks for taking my questions. Maybe first on the amylin and triple agonist programs, can you remind us of the partnership economics and what we should be expecting in terms of milestone payments on the start of the phase II trials for each? Secondly, can you elaborate on the additional phase I study that AbbVie has started with the amylin? What is similar or different in that study compared to the phase I we've seen the data from already? Lastly, on the ventures part, does your previous guidance for first venture creation in the second half this year still stand? Thank you.
Thank you very much, Susanne. Kristian will take the first question, Louise is the second and Zoë is the third.
Yeah. Hi, Susanne. Just starting with the deal packages and the milestones and starting off with ABBV-295, the amylin. There's a number of milestones, both development milestones and sales milestones for a total deal package of $1.9 billion. On top of that comes royalties. We don't disclose the details of each milestone. Again, I want to reiterate both the development and sales milestones for a total value of $1.9 billion. Essentially, the same level of detail, that is what we also provide for the triple agonist. However, the deal package is somewhat lower. There is around EUR 240 million and again, both development and sales milestones and royalties on top of that.
No, no details on the on the sites and and what triggers the individual milestones.
Yeah. To answer the second question here with regards to additional phase I study that AbbVie is running and the core differences here compared to the former phase I MAD study. In the first study, that cohort primarily included male participants of a lower BMI group. In the next study here that is run by AbbVie, it will be conducted in obese patients. Really aiming for a much higher BMI cohort, 30-45 is the inclusion criteria here. In addition, the ambition is really also to increase the number of females participating in this study here.
Concerning the creation of our first venture, we are on track. We're currently evaluating a number of opportunities in line with the scope that I outlined in the main presentation. We will be giving more details of those ventures at the R&D day later this year.
Got it. Thanks a lot.
The next question comes from Rajan Sharma from Goldman Sachs. Please go ahead.
Hello. Thanks for taking my questions. Got a couple around the UCN2 asset as well. I realize there'll be more details at the R&D day, as you mentioned, could you just help us understand some of the timelines here? What are your expectations for potential first clinical data, both in the obese or the obesity muscle preservation indication also beyond that? Secondly, just maybe following up from a question earlier. In terms of definition of obesity, drug-induced muscle loss, how should we think about that, how do you implement that into a clinical trial? There's of course an argument that muscle loss is an expected consequence of weight loss.
How do you isolate what may be, sort of an unhealthy level of muscle loss, in a clinical trial? Thank you.
The question goes to Thomas.
Yeah. With regards to the trial timelines, I think we will be speaking in more detail about it once we have the trial approved, right? The first patient dose, because that gives us then the confidence to speak about the timing of the incoming data. Yeah. With regards to the obesity indication in the context of incretin therapy induced muscle loss, this is a very important question. From our perspective, what is really relevant and important is muscle function and physical performance. Yeah, not muscle volume or muscle mass itself. Yeah. It is really the benefit that we can bring to the patient that would differentiate GUB- UCN2 from other mechanisms in the market.
This is what we are looking to demonstrate in our first clinical program, and really demonstrate that there is a differentiated product, yeah, from weight loss drugs that are currently available.
As a reminder, if you wish to ask a question, please dial pound key five on your telephone keypad.
Okay. I think that seems to conclude the questions from the phone. We received a couple of written questions also. I think one at least has been answered already. Another question is also on our drug discovery programs for obesity and what could come next after the already after the assets we already discussed here. I give that over to Louise.
Yeah. Thank you, Kristian. I would say that the, for early discovery programs, we are of course working really, really hard on advancing those. The specific timing on activities here, I would not comment on today. I think we will leave that, then we will of course announce when we have anything to share.
Okay, operator, it seems that there are no further questions. We don't have further written questions either. I hand over to Markus to Just some concluding comments.
Well, thank you very much for participation and your questions. I think Gubra has great momentum, and we have an ambitious growth aspiration and growth phase ahead of us. We look forward to discuss our progress in the next call, in the next quarter. Thank you very much.