EKTAH

EKTAH SAS is a French biotechnology firm, established in July 2021, that is developing therapeutic solutions to address obesity and overweight conditions. The company's scientific foundation is built upon 15 years of academic research in lipid metabolism and fat taste receptor activation, originating from the Nutrition and Toxicology Department of the University of Bourgogne. This research identified that individuals with obesity often have a diminished oral perception of dietary fats, leading to increased consumption to achieve satiety and pleasure.

The company was co-founded by Professor Naim Akhtar Khan, a nutritional physiology researcher at the University of Bourgogne, and Xavier Boidevézi, a marketing expert with prior experience at Danone and SEB. They were joined by fellow co-founders from the university, Amira Sayed Khan and Aziz Hichami. The collaboration merges deep scientific knowledge with strategic market vision. Professor Khan's work on the taste perception of fats earned him an award from the Academy of Medicine in 2020, providing the scientific impetus for the company's creation. Boidevézi serves as CEO, overseeing operational and strategic direction, while Professor Khan leads the scientific and research activities.

EKTAH’s core technology revolves around identifying and developing lipid agonists, which are molecules that activate the fat taste receptors in the mouth more intensely than actual dietary fats. These non-caloric agonists are designed to trigger early satiety signals through the tongue-brain-gut axis, leading to a reduction in food intake and subsequent weight loss. The company's lead candidate, NKS-3, is formulated as an orodispersible tablet taken before meals. In pre-clinical studies on mice, this approach demonstrated a significant decrease in food consumption. Following successful initial human safety trials on healthy volunteers, the company is proceeding with Phase Ib and II clinical trials to validate the safety and efficacy in patients with a BMI of 27 or higher.

The company's business model is centered on pharmaceutical development, with a goal of bringing its therapeutic product to market by 2030. EKTAH's strategy involves securing partnerships with major pharmaceutical companies for licensing agreements after the completion of Phase II trials, which would include upfront payments, milestones, and sales royalties. The firm operates in the global obesity treatment market, a sector valued at over $150 billion. Since its inception, EKTAH has secured funding through various channels, including SATT Sayens, an equity crowdfunding campaign, and grants, accumulating over $4.36 million in raised capital.

Keywords: obesity treatment, biotechnology, weight loss therapy, lipid agonists, fat taste receptors, satiety signals, orodispersible tablets, pharmaceutical development, clinical trials, Naim Akhtar Khan, Xavier Boidevézi, University of Bourgogne, deeptech, nutritional physiology, food intake reduction, metabolic health, NKS-3, non-caloric, therapeutic solutions, weight management