Daewon and Pharmus Enter Triple-Action Diabetes and Obesity Drug Development

Daewon Pharmaceutical announced on the 30th that it has signed a joint development and technology transfer agreement with the research-focused bio venture company PharmEarth Biosciences for the research and development of new drugs for diabetes and obesity treatment.

At the joint research and technology transfer agreement signing ceremony between Daewon Pharmaceutical and Pharm Earth Biosciences held on the 30th, Baek In-hwan, President of Daewon Pharmaceutical (left), and Yang Jae-sung, CEO of Pharm Earth, are posing for a commemorative photo.
[Photo by Daewon Pharmaceutical]

Under this agreement, Daewon Pharmaceutical plans to evaluate a triple agonist targeting glucagon, glucagon-like peptide (GLP)-1, and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) receptors, which PharmEarth has obtained through drug design and synthesis, and select the final candidate compound. Subsequently, preclinical and clinical trials will be conducted.

GLP-1 is used as a treatment for diabetes and obesity due to its effects of promoting insulin secretion to lower blood sugar, suppressing appetite in the brain, and slowing gastric emptying. GIP similarly promotes insulin secretion like GLP-1. The two substances differ in the types of cells in the small intestine that secrete them. Glucagon is secreted by the pancreas and promotes energy expenditure, resulting in weight loss effects.

Daewon Pharmaceutical aims to develop a drug that reduces gastrointestinal side effects, is easy to produce, and enhances blood sugar lowering and weight loss effects through an ideal ratio of these three substances.

Baek In-hwan, CEO of Daewon Pharmaceutical, said, “This agreement allows us to accelerate the development of treatments for diabetes and obesity,” adding, “We will continue to actively invest in research and development of various therapeutic agents.”