Decades of research and chemical innovation around the gut hormones, GLP-1 and GIP, have revolutionized the treatment of diabetes and obesity, achieving results once possible only with surgery. Despite this success, our understanding of how these molecules work remains incomplete. Moreover, their broader potential in treating other diseases, such as neurodegenerative disorders, is just beginning to emerge. Thus, in this meeting, we aim to leverage the collective expertise of basic and clinical researchers teamed with pharmaceutical scientists to discuss cutting-edge insights into incretin biology as well explore novel mechanisms and approaches that will be necessary to further propel the treatment of obesity and numerous additional disease indications.

Key themes include:

• The latest mechanistic and methodological advances in incretin biology, including the role of anti-inflammatory incretin action, dissection of central versus peripheral actions on homeostasis, and consideration of the risks and opportunities presented by deeper brain penetrance of incretin agonists
• Constructive debate over topics such as GIP agonism versus antagonism, the consequences of lean mass loss and metabolic adaptation, and quantity versus quality of weight loss
• Exploration of novel biologies and targets that could address unmet clinical needs beyond incretins, including energy expenditure and alternative mechanisms of appetite control and gut-brain signaling
• New therapeutic avenues made possible by chemical advances in small molecule agonist design, biased signaling, conjugated polyagonists, and extended drug exposure.

Anticipated Outcome:

We hope this meeting will catalyze paradigm shifts in approaches to obesity management and set a road map for the next generation of therapies that will provide transformative benefits across a spectrum of disease indications.