Aardvark Therapeutics

Aardvark Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing first-in-class small molecule therapeutics that activate innate homeostatic pathways to treat metabolic and orphan diseases. The company's lead platform targets Bitter Taste Receptors (TAS2Rs) expressed in the gut, which trigger the release of gut-peptide hormones like GLP-1 and cholecystokinin (CCK) to regulate hunger and metabolic function. Headquartered in San Diego, the company transitioned to a public entity in early 2025. Its primary focus is on hyperphagia (insatiable hunger) associated with Prader-Willi Syndrome (PWS) and other forms of severe obesity. Aardvark's approach is considered 'orthogonal' to traditional GLP-1 therapies, as it targets the gut-brain axis through a gut-restricted mechanism that avoids systemic side effects like nausea.