'25% Weight Loss Goal' Hanmi Pharmaceutical's Next-Generation Obesity Drug Preclinical Results Revealed

Hanmi Pharmaceutical unveiled key preclinical research results of its next-generation obesity treatment HM15275, which is expected to achieve 'over 25% weight loss while minimizing muscle loss,' at the American Diabetes Association (ADA), the world's largest diabetes and obesity conference.

Researchers at Hanmi Pharmaceutical R&D Center are explaining a poster containing key research on the next-generation triple-action obesity treatment HM15275 to attendees at the American Diabetes Association (ADA) conference.
[Photo by Hanmi Pharmaceutical]

Hanmi Pharmaceutical announced on the 25th that it presented four major preclinical study results confirming the weight loss effects of HM15275 in poster sessions at ADA 2024, held from the 21st to the 24th in Orlando, Florida, USA. HM15275 received approval for its Phase 1 clinical trial plan in the United States last month and began dosing actual patients in mid-April.

HM15275 is a triple agonist that simultaneously acts on three receptors?glucagon-like peptide (GLP)-1 receptor, gastric inhibitory polypeptide (GIP), and glucagon?using Hanmi Pharmaceutical’s next-generation sustained-release platform technology called acylation. By optimizing each receptor’s action, it is specialized for obesity treatment and is designed to also be effective against various metabolic diseases as a secondary benefit. Currently, Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy, which dominates the global obesity treatment market, acts only on GLP-1, while Eli Lilly’s Zepbound acts dually on GLP-1 and GIP.

Hanmi Pharmaceutical explained that at this ADA, HM15275 demonstrated potential to become a ‘Best-in-Class’ new drug in the obesity treatment field based on efficacy comparable to weight loss effects achieved by surgical interventions. Although Wegovy and Zepbound have shown 15-20% weight loss effects in clinical trials, they fall short of the 25-30% weight loss levels achieved through metabolic bariatric surgery, indicating an unmet medical need.

According to the newly presented research results, HM15275 reduced the weight of obese mice by 39.9% after 3 weeks of dosing. Wegovy and Zepbound reduced weight by 15.0% and 25.3%, respectively. While human clinical trials are needed to confirm actual weight loss effects in people, the mouse experiments demonstrated both qualitatively and quantitatively superior weight reduction efficacy compared to existing treatments. Notably, this efficacy was identified as being driven by HM15275’s optimized triple pharmacological action, which regulates diet and increases energy metabolism.

Additionally, Hanmi Pharmaceutical disclosed preclinical experimental results proving that HM15275 improves other metabolic 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 therapies are continuously expanding their indications in these areas. Wegovy was recognized by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its effect in reducing the risk of cardiovascular events, which led to its inclusion in U.S. public insurance coverage.

Choi In-young, Head of Hanmi Pharmaceutical’s Research and Development (R&D) Center, stated, “This year’s ADA presentation holds special significance as it was the first time to showcase a ‘next-generation obesity new drug’ at an international conference, solidifying our leading position in the obesity treatment field. By the end of the year, we plan to unveil a new concept obesity treatment pipeline with a non-incretin mechanism following Epeglenatide and HM15275.”