GI Innovation Unveils Obesity Drug Candidate 'GI-213'

GI Innovation announced on the 6th that it will develop GI-213, a candidate drug for obesity treatment, as its next-generation main pipeline.

GI Innovation Logo [Photo by GI Innovation]

GI-213 is composed of a dual-fusion protein that induces weight loss effects not by suppressing appetite but by promoting fat breakdown, increasing energy expenditure, and increasing muscle mass. The substance patent application has been completed.

According to JP Morgan Research, the global obesity treatment market is rapidly growing at an average annual rate of 50%. It is estimated that the market size will exceed 100 trillion KRW by 2030. Currently leading the market, glucagon-like peptide (GLP)-1 class drugs such as Wegovy (Novo Nordisk) and Mounjaro (Eli Lilly) show significant weight loss effects but have limitations including muscle mass reduction, tolerance due to long-term use, slow weight loss, and rebound effects after discontinuation.

GI Innovation aims to overcome these unmet needs with GI-213. The company conducted preclinical mouse tests on one of the dual targets of GI-213 and confirmed that although food intake increased, body weight decreased by 36.1%. This suggests dramatic weight loss can be expected without dietary control.

Jang Myung-ho, Chief Scientific Officer (CSO) and inventor of this patent, said, "Global pharmaceutical companies are looking for new treatments that can overcome the rebound effect limitations occurring after administration of GLP-1 class obesity drugs." He added, "GI-213 reduces weight by increasing basal metabolic rate through a differentiated mechanism, making early-stage global technology transfer possible."