BL-3020

BL-3020 is an orally-available, backbone cyclic peptide developed by BioLineRx for the treatment of obesity. It acts as an agonist of the melanocortin-4 receptor (MC4R) in the brain, which plays a critical role in energy homeostasis, appetite control, and satiety. Derived from a linear α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH) analog (Phe-D-Phe-Arg-Trp-Gly), the cyclic structure of BL-3020 was designed to enhance metabolic stability and oral bioavailability compared to traditional linear peptides. The compound was originally developed at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and in-licensed by BioLineRx in 2006. While preclinical studies in animal models demonstrated significant reductions in food consumption and body weight, the program was eventually discontinued from the BioLineRx pipeline.