Peptide fusion bio-specialist company Nivek is showing strong performance. It appears that the news of being selected as the lead institution for the development project of next-generation obesity treatments using newly secured safe peptides, supported by the Osong Advanced Medical Industry Promotion Foundation under the Ministry of Health and Welfare, is influencing the stock price. Through this project, Nivek plans to accelerate the development of next-generation obesity treatments that minimize side effects such as muscle loss seen in existing obesity drugs like Wegovy and Mounjaro.
As of 9:40 AM on the 17th, Nivek is trading at 17,100 KRW, up 9.2% from the previous day.
A company representative explained, "The research and development focuses on developing a next-generation obesity treatment in the form of a sustained-release subcutaneous injection that simultaneously ensures safety and efficacy by utilizing peptides with selective anti-obesity and anti-inflammatory effects."
In this project, Nivek is responsible for ▲developing a sustained-release subcutaneous injection containing obesity peptides ▲evaluating the in vitro adipogenesis inhibition function of the sustained-release subcutaneous injection form ▲studying the binding between anti-obesity peptides and surface targets of preadipocytes ▲and efficacy evaluation through obesity animal model experiments.
Most obesity treatments currently marketed overseas, including Wegovy and Zepbound, aim for weight loss, but many of these drugs primarily act by suppressing appetite. GLP-1 receptor agonists can cause side effects related to glucose metabolism such as hypoglycemia, gastrointestinal issues, pancreatitis, and may induce muscle loss.
The peptide-based obesity treatment developed by Nivek works by directly inhibiting adipocyte proliferation and fat accumulation, addressing the muscle loss problem. The company explains that this approach can provide safer and more effective treatment options for obese patients, thereby reducing not only obesity but also related diseases such as hypertension, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes.
A Nivek representative stated, "The research and development can be expanded into a platform technology that enables sustained in vivo release of biopharmaceuticals such as proteins and antibodies, including obesity treatments, by applying sustained-release drug delivery formulation technology," adding, "Based on our proprietary drug delivery technology, we are also pursuing expansion from subcutaneous injection forms of obesity treatments to oral formulations."
They continued, "Since Nivek has peptide and pharmaceutical production facilities, if the peptide-based obesity treatment is commercialized, revenue can be generated not only from technology transfer but also from finished product manufacturing," emphasizing, "We will leap forward as a leading company in peptide technology, leveraging the obesity treatment research and development as a stepping stone."
According to the global market research firm Fortune Business Insights, the worldwide obesity treatment market size was estimated at $4.51 billion (6.4736 trillion KRW) last year and is projected to reach $6.15 billion (8.8277 trillion KRW) this year. The market is expected to grow at an average annual rate of 25.5% from 2024, reaching $37.94 billion (54.459 trillion KRW) by 2032.
Nivek's peptide-based obesity treatment research and development is being conducted jointly with the Industry-Academic Cooperation Foundation of Chungbuk National University as part of the advanced medical technology value creation project in Chungcheongbuk-do. This project is a local government R&D initiative aimed at revitalizing research and development among bio-related companies in Chungcheongbuk-do and promoting the commercialization of research outcomes.
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