'40% Weight Loss' Animal Experiment Results Revealed at American Diabetes Association
Dong-A ST and Progend Announce Obesity Drug Research Findings
Glucagon-like peptide (GLP)-1 class obesity treatments are rapidly becoming blockbuster products in the global pharmaceutical industry due to their dramatic weight loss effects, and domestic pharmaceutical companies such as Hanmi Pharmaceutical and Dong-A ST have also entered the race. Hanmi Pharmaceutical will showcase a drug expected to deliver treatment effects far surpassing existing obesity treatments at a global conference.
Hanmi Pharmaceutical will present four preclinical study results related to its obesity treatment candidate (development code HM15275) at the American Diabetes Association (ADA) conference held from the 21st to the 24th. ADA is the world's largest conference on obesity and diabetes, and this year it is held in Orlando, USA.
HM15275 is a triple agonist combining three mechanisms of action: not only GLP-1 but also gastric inhibitory polypeptide (GIP) and glucagon. It received approval for Phase 1 clinical trials in the United States last month. Currently, Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy, which dominates the global obesity treatment market, acts only on GLP-1, while Eli Lilly’s competitor drug Zepbound acts dually on GLP-1 and GIP.
Hanmi Pharmaceutical will present research results confirming the weight loss effect of HM15275 in rat experiments. HM15275 reduced rat body weight by 39.9% after three weeks of administration. Wegovy and Zepbound reduced weight by 15.0% and 25.3%, respectively, in rat experiments. Although the weight loss effect in humans must now be confirmed through clinical trials, HM15275 demonstrated superior weight loss effects compared to existing blockbuster treatments in rat studies. Hanmi Pharmaceutical expects a 25% weight reduction in clinical trials on humans, a level typically achievable only through gastric band surgery. In Phase 3 clinical trials, Wegovy and Zepbound recorded weight reductions of 14.9% and 26%, respectively, confirming effects nearly identical to those seen in rat experiments.
Additionally, Hanmi Pharmaceutical will disclose preclinical experimental results demonstrating that HM15275 improves other chronic diseases related to obesity, such as heart failure, cardiovascular disease, and kidney disease. These diseases are considered major complications caused by obesity, and GLP-1 treatments are continuously expanding their indications in these areas. Wegovy was listed on U.S. public insurance after receiving FDA approval for its effect in reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease.
This announcement is expected to further accelerate Hanmi Pharmaceutical’s 'Hanmi Obesity Pipeline (H.O.P)' project aimed at conquering obesity. Hanmi Pharmaceutical also has an obesity treatment candidate that has already entered Phase 3 clinical trials. A clinical trial of the GLP-1 class drug efpeglenatide is underway with 420 domestic patients and is expected to continue until the first half of 2026. Efpeglenatide was licensed to Sanofi in 2015 as a diabetes treatment but was later returned; however, research results presented at ADA confirmed its weight loss and blood sugar control effects. Hanmi Pharmaceutical is redeveloping efpeglenatide with the goal of creating a ‘Korean-style obesity drug.’
At this year’s ADA, other domestic pharmaceutical companies such as Dong-A ST and Progen will also present research results on obesity treatments. Dong-A ST will reveal preclinical research results of DA-1726, a GLP-1 and glucagon dual agonist being developed as an obesity treatment through its U.S. subsidiary Neurobo Pharmaceuticals. This drug received FDA approval for Phase 1 clinical trials in February, and the first patient dosing began in April. In rat experiments, it showed a 31.9% weight reduction compared to the control group, along with confirmed effects on dyslipidemia control and blood sugar reduction. Progen will present data on the blood sugar control efficacy and safety of PG-102, which is being developed as a treatment for obesity and diabetes.
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