Naibec Registers Domestic Patent for Inflammation-Inhibiting Peptide Technology, 'Patent Registration in US, China, and Europe Underway'

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunseok Yoo] Naivek, a peptide fusion bio-specialized company, has completed domestic patent registration for peptide technology that suppresses major inflammatory diseases such as non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), and arthritis. Since Naivek is proceeding with patent registration in major overseas countries including Europe, the United States, and China for the same patent content, the domestic patent registration holds significant meaning.

Naivek announced through a public disclosure on the 20th that it has completed patent registration in the Republic of Korea for the "new use of peptides that inhibit the function and expression of multi-disease biomarkers." This technology centers on peptides that reduce inflammatory responses by inhibiting specific proteins related to the signal transmission of inflammatory reactions.

A Naivek official stated, "Based on the patented peptides, they can be applied to treat various inflammatory diseases," adding, "In particular, we proved that it has the function of suppressing ‘biomarkers’ that cause fibrotic diseases such as NASH and NAFLD, reducing the expression of specific proteins, thereby decreasing liver tissue inflammation and fat accumulation as well as inhibiting fibrosis, which enabled us to successfully register the patent."

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is a condition in which fat accumulates more than 5% in the body, mainly in liver cells, due to obesity, diabetes, lipid metabolism disorders, etc., regardless of alcohol consumption. It is a major cause of various diseases such as fibrosis and cirrhosis. When liver tissue is damaged, normal liver cells transform into fibroblast forms, and these degenerated fibroblasts excessively produce ‘fibrous proteins,’ causing liver tissue fibrosis and cirrhosis.

Naivek is currently developing 'NIPEP-NASH,' a non-alcoholic steatohepatitis treatment based on this patented technology. Naivek’s therapeutic agent not only inhibits inflammation-inducing proteins but also has a ‘cell reprogramming’ effect that restores damaged fibroblasts to normal cells, making it highly likely to be developed as a treatment for NASH.

NIPEP-NASH is being developed as an injectable formulation, with plans to complete preclinical toxicity tests by the end of this year and proceed to clinical phase 1 trials next year. Research and development are also underway for an oral formulation, a ‘pill-type treatment,’ which is highly evaluated from a commercialization perspective.

Currently developed treatments only address the early stages of liver disease. According to the company, global pharmaceutical companies are highly interested in treatments for severe patients with mid-stage or more advanced disease progression, highlighting attention on Naivek’s new drug development.