Pharma companies showcase their R&D achievements

'Obesity treatments are trending'

ProGen, developing GLP-1·GIP-2 targeted obesity treatments…has proven effects in preclinical trials

Daewoong Therapeutics, to commercialize microneedle patch…has 'the advantage of room temperature storage'

ProGen’s CEO Jong Gyun-Kim

Pharmaceutical companies have disclosed the development outcomes of the obesity treatments, which have now become the trending R&D.

 

As obesity treatments of the GLP-1 class, such as those of Novo Nordisk and Lilly, become blockbuster new drugs globally, the development of latecomers is on the rise.

 

Major companies plan to develop the next-generation obesity treatments related to GLP-1/GLP-2 and microneedle.

 

At BIO KOREA 2024, held on May 8th at Coex, Seoul, the session titled ‘Advancements and Strategic Directions in the Diabetes-Obesity Treatment Market‘ was held.

 

During the session, ProGen and Daewoong Therapeutics showcased their next-generation obesity treatments.

 

Global pharmaceutical companies’ obesity treatments, such as Novo Nordisk's Wegovy and Saxenda and Eli Lilly’s Zepbound, have demonstrated game-changing weight loss effects.

 

Because of the advantage of effective weight loss with injection, the use of obesity treatments has significantly increased.

 

Korean pharmaceutical companies are developing distinguished obesity treatments with various mechanisms of action and formulations.

 

ProGen·Daewoong Therapeutics, developing obesity treatments with mechanisms of action of dual agonist·microneedle ProGen is developing GLP-1/GIP-2 dual agonist for the treatment of diabetes and obesity.

 

The company has an in-house NTIG platform, which is a multi-specific fusion protein technology.

 

The NTIG platform has the advantage of improving drug efficacy and administration duration of various proteins.

 

ProGen’s PG-102, a new candidate product for obesity, is under development using this platform.

 

In preclinical trials, PG-102 has shown a greater effect on weight loss than Zepbound’s active ingredient, tirzepatitide.

 

Specifically, PG-102 has improved metabolic health in an obesity mouse model and it demonstrated effective weight loss in fat cells.

 

ProGen’s CEO Jong Gyun-Kim said, “Our goal for indications is monthly administration for diabetes and weekly administration for obesity.

 

We are confident that it is more effective in reducing glycosylated hemoglobin and weight loss than other drugs.” He added, “It is also expected to prevent comorbidities such as cardiovascular diseases." Kim analyzed the cost of obesity treatment and the long-term administration data to play an important role in the future commercialization of treatments.

 

Non-reimbursed obesity treatments are not covered by insurance reimbursement except for about nine countries.

 

If the treatment is not reimbursed, it costs over US$15,000 annually.

 

"The analysis suggests that pricing and insurance reimbursement policies will greatly influence the future development of obesity treatments," Kim said.

 

"The weight loss effect of obesity drugs is approximately 20-40%.

 

In the future, the quality of weight loss will become more important.

 

The developers of obesity drugs should consider the phenomenon of more than two-thirds of patients regaining weight after weight loss as a significant issue," Kim added.

 

Daewoong Therapeutics is developing an obesity treatment with a microneedle formulation.

 

Microneedle is a drug delivery technology that utilizes patch-like devices with needles thinner than hair follicles to help absorb medication into the body.

 

In precise quantities, microneedle can deliver various drugs, such as vaccines, toxins, and antibodies.

 

The core processes are conducted at low temperatures, preventing degradation of biopharmaceuticals.

 

It can reduce injection site pain and allow storage at room temperature, resulting in cost savings for storage and distribution.

 

Although this technology has typically been used in skincare procedures and cosmetics, the pharmaceutical industry is trying to replace injections or oral formulations with new administration routes for treating dementia and diabetes.

 

According to Daewoong Pharmaceutical, the microneedle obesity treatment patch they are developing requires only once-weekly application on areas with thin skin layers, such as the arms and abdomen.

 

Currently marketed injectables require daily or weekly administration.

 

The microneedle patch could serve as an alternative for patients resistant to injections or those with poor medication adherence.

 

Daewoong Therapeutics plans to compare the efficacy of microneedle patch formulation with subcutaneous (SC) injections of semaglutide compounds such as Ozempic, Wegovy, and Rybelsus from Novo Nordisk.

 

The company is conducting clinical trial comparing its microneedle formulation of 1mm with SC injections.

 

Daewoong Pharmaceutical’s DDS department team leader Lee Buyong

Daewoong Pharmaceutical’s DDS department team leader Lee Buyong said, “We are developing a microneedle patch formulation that can be administered once a week and stored at room temperature.

 

If successful, we believe we can tap into a niche market.

 

We are progressing with the development, anticipating that the patch containing 1.5-2 mm of semaglutide will have equivalent efficacy to the current 1 mg semaglutide injection." "Currently marketed GLP-1 formulations are all administered via injection, which can be difficult for patients with needle phobia and may result in low adherence rates.

 

Microneedle patch could serve as an alternative," Lee emphasized.

 

"While major obesity treatments require refrigerated storage, microneedle formulations can be stored at room temperature, offering significant manufacturing advantages," Lee added.

 

"The current microneedle formulation does not have a classification of being sterile or non-sterile.

 

We have started building manufacturing facilities for mass production, assuming that it will become a sterile formulation in the future.

 

The facility's completion in 2026 will enable us to proceed with phase 2/3 clinical trials."