- Olio Labs Identifies Why Women Experience Stronger Side Effects from GLP-1 Drugs
- The Company's AI-Powered Combination Design Engine (CoDE) Maps Biological Systems to Design Personalized Therapeutics to Help People Live Healthier Lives
- Investors like Boom Capital, Overwater Ventures, SciFounders, and Y Combinator Are Backing Olio Labs' Therapeutic Design Approach
SAN FRANCISCO, March 19, 2025 -- With two billion people overweight or obese and the obesity treatment market expected to reach $200 billion by 2031, Olio Labs has released a groundbreaking study. The data uncover fundamental sex-based differences in how weight loss medications interact with human biology, revealing why women experience more severe side effects from GLP-1 drugs such as OzempicⓇ and Zepbound®.
Founded by leading neuroscientists and computational biologists in 2023, Olio Labs is pioneering a novel therapeutic design approach that starts with whole-body systems instead of molecules. It aims to create more personalized and effective treatments that transcend the traditional one-size-fits-all model.
"Olio is revolutionizing drug discovery. Their platform combines a novel computational approach with validated preclinical models and real patient data to develop better treatments for specific populations. Their patient-first approach has the potential to advance personalized medicine," said Patricia Martin, Olio Labs Advisor and former COO – Lilly Diabetes.
Revealing the Biological Divide in Drug Response
Olio Labs' study uncovers unprecedented insights into GLP-1 drug effectiveness across sexes, addressing a critical research gap in a market where women make up 70% of patients.
- Breakthrough Potential: The research suggests personalized dosing—adjusting medication based on menstrual cycle phases—could reduce side effects and discontinuation rates.
- Efficacy-to-Tolerability Ratio: Women show greater weight loss than men but experience 2.5 times higher rates of nausea and vomiting.
- Biological Mechanisms Identified: The study reveals that female mice have nearly double the GLP-1 receptor expression in brain regions linked to nausea, explaining their heightened side effects. If this receptor expression pattern is consistent across species it could explain why women experience higher rates of nausea and vomiting.
- Hormone-Drug Interaction: Higher estrogen levels correlate with more severe side effects, highlighting the role of hormone levels in drug response.
- Cross-Species Validation: Findings were replicated in rats and mice, confirming these sex-based differences are evolutionarily conserved.
To learn more, read the paper On the Sex Differences in GLP-1 Signaling Across Species
"This isn't just about improving GLP-1 drugs—it's about rethinking how we design future therapies for real-world patients from the start," said David Tingley, PhD, co-founder and CEO of Olio Labs. "By discovering these fundamental sex-based differences in drug response, our research opens the door to more personalized treatment approaches that could significantly improve outcomes for millions of patients."
A Computational Approach to Understanding Biological Complexity
Olio Labs has developed a revolutionary therapeutic design platform that moves beyond traditional drug discovery methods. The core of the platform is its AI-powered Combination Design Engine (CoDE) platform, which leverages:
- Human medical record and biological data
- In-vivo phenomic screening
- In-depth neural and endocrine circuit maps
- AI-powered integration of biological expertise
The company's platform harnesses a vast 120 million patient electronic medical record dataset alongside a proprietary in vivo screening platform that accurately translates to humans and predicts clinical trial failures. Together, these integrated technologies create a powerful system for advancing medical research and improving treatment outcomes.
Investor Backing and Future Vision
Olio Labs has raised $4.5 million in funding led by Boom Capital and Overwater Ventures who were joined by Pioneer Fund, SciFounders, Scrum Ventures, Y Combinator (S23), and ZAKA. The company's advisory board includes industry veterans like Patricia Martin (former COO of Eli Lilly Diabetes), Michael Schwartz (Professor of Medicine, University of Washington), and Hugh Reinhoff (Founder & CEO of Imago BioSciences).
"Olio is redefining the future of medicine by using technology to reinvent the drug discover process with physiology at the center -- effectively addressing the needs of patient populations that have long been overlooked and bridging the gender divide in pharma," said Kristina Simmons, founder and managing partner of Overwater Ventures. "Obesity is one of the largest problems in America right now, and Olio's research will help millions of women have a better solution without the side effects."
About Olio Labs
Olio Labs is a next-generation biotechnology company pioneering AI-driven therapeutic design. By fusing advanced computational methods with nuanced biological insights and cutting-edge technology, the company is transforming pharmaceutical research from a molecule-first to a patient-first approach.
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