Domestic pharmaceutical and biotech companies are accelerating the development of next-generation obesity treatments that reduce the frequency of injections or allow for oral administration.

JW Pharmaceutical and Daewoong Pharmaceutical are developing treatments that extend the dosing interval of existing once-weekly injections to every two weeks or once a month. Meanwhile, Ildong Pharmaceutical is developing an oral treatment, and Celltrion is working on a quadruple-action treatment.

With Hanmi Pharmaceutical's "Epe," the first domestic Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist obesity treatment, scheduled for prescriptions by the end of this month, competition in the domestic obesity treatment market is expected to kick into high gear.

◇ From Once Weekly to Every Two Weeks or Monthly: Reducing Injection Burden for Obesity Treatments

According to the pharmaceutical and biotech industry on the 24th, JW Pharmaceutical [001060] is developing an obesity treatment administered once every two weeks.

Compared to existing GLP-1 receptor agonist injections administered once a week, this can drastically reduce the annual number of doses from 52 to 26.

In April, JW Pharmaceutical in-licensed a new drug candidate from China's Gan & Lee Pharmaceuticals, and in August, it applied to the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) for Phase 3 clinical trial plans targeting obesity and type 2 diabetes indications, respectively.

Daewoong Pharmaceutical [069620] has set out to develop a once-a-month extended-release injection and a microneedle patch treatment that can replace needles.

In the first half of this year, the company applied for a Phase 1 clinical trial plan for its long-acting injection and is currently conducting Phase 1 clinical trials for the microneedle patch formulation.

An official from Daewoong Pharmaceutical stated, "The long-acting injection aims to lower the burden of administration during long-term treatment by reducing the frequency of dosing, while the microneedle patch focuses on easing the burden of using needles and enhancing self-administration convenience." They added, "We are developing these as mutually complementary treatment options that patients can choose based on their treatment environment and preferences."

◇ From Oral Anti-Obesity Pills to Quadruple-Action Treatments: Next-Gen Development Race

Amid an obesity treatment market centered on injections, some companies have also embarked on developing oral treatments. Oral medications not only reduce aversion to injections but also offer many advantages from a manufacturing standpoint.

Ildong Pharmaceutical [249420] independently developed a GLP-1-based oral synthetic new drug candidate, conducted Phase 1 clinical trials, and released topline (primary endpoint) results last September.

The company is currently pursuing out-licensing while conducting basic research necessary to enter Phase 2 clinical trials.

Celltrion [068270] is currently conducting preclinical trials for a quadruple-action obesity treatment candidate that simultaneously targets four receptors, including GLP-1.

◇ First Domestic GLP-1 Obesity Drug 'Epe' Expected to Be Prescribed by Month-End... Commercialization Gathers Pace

"Epe," a domestic GLP-1 receptor agonist obesity treatment developed by Hanmi Pharmaceutical [128940], is imminent for supply to medical fields.

On the 7th, the MFDS approved Epe as South Korea's 45th new drug and the country's first domestic GLP-1 class obesity treatment.

Regarding the supply schedule for Epe, Hanmi Pharmaceutical CEO Hwang Sang-yeon stated at a symposium for medical professionals held on the 22nd, "We made our first shipment today (the 22nd), and as early as about a week later (the 29th), it could reach the point where prescriptions become available."

Previously, Hanmi Pharmaceutical garnered attention through technology exports of metabolic disease new drug candidates, including obesity and diabetes treatments.

In August, Hanmi Pharmaceutical out-licensed its metabolic disease new drug candidate "HM17321" (a UCN2 analogue) to Genentech.

Phase 1 clinical trials for this substance are currently underway, with the goal of developing a new drug that can achieve weight loss and muscle preservation effects simultaneously.

The contract size amounts to up to $2.3 billion (approx. 3.2 trillion won), including milestones for clinical development, regulatory approval, and commercialization.

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