Epicyt Pharma's BAFA Cuts Urinary Calcium Loss in Bypass Patients
Gothenburg – – September 10, 2026 -- Epicyt Pharma AB reported positive topline results from a Phase 1/2a first-in-human study of its oral drug candidate BAFA, showing a statistically significant reduction in urinary calcium excretion in patients who underwent Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) surgery. The Gothenburg-based clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company said the trial, completed in March 2026, also recorded improvements in key biomarkers of calcium homeostasis, consistent with enhanced intestinal calcium uptake.
BAFA targets a market of 3.5 million patients across the EU and US
Epicyt estimates that approximately 3.5 million people in the EU and US currently live with impaired calcium homeostasis following bariatric surgery, with roughly 250,000 new patients added annually. RYGB is widely used to treat severe obesity but frequently impairs calcium uptake, raising the risk of secondary hyperparathyroidism, reduced bone density and fractures.