Korean Pharma Giants Join the Fight Against Obesity: Hanmi and Ildong Lead the Charge
Novo Nordisk Wigovi, a representative obesity treatment, to be launched in Korea in mid-October
Last year, global obesity treatment drug sales reached approximately KRW 9 trillion… 145.6% increase over the previous year
Hanmi, 3rd Phase of Domestic Clinical Trial of Efpeglenatide… Ildong, Developing Oral New Drug
A view of Hanmi Pharmaceutical headquarters (left) and Ildong Pharmaceutical headquarters.
Novo Nordisk’s obesity treatment drug ‘Wigobi’ will be launched in Korea in October. Wigobi has been known as a weight loss secret for celebrities such as Tesla CEO Elon Musk, and has even experienced a shortage of stock. Domestic companies such as Hanmi Pharmaceutical and Ildong Pharmaceutical are also speeding up the development of related new drugs in line with the growing obesity treatment market trend.
According to industry sources on the 19th, Novo Nordisk Pharmaceuticals (Novo Nordisk Korea) will launch the obesity treatment drug ‘Wigobi prefilled pen (ingredient name: semaglutide)’ in Korea in mid-October. It has been a year and a half since it received product approval from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety in April of last year. Up until now, the launch of Wigobi has been delayed due to supply shortages.
Obesity treatment drugs have emerged as major blockbuster new drugs (annual sales of over 1 trillion won) in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry. The representative obesity treatment drug, Wigobi, recorded global sales of 4.5 billion dollars (about 6 trillion won) last year. According to the Korea Biotechnology Industry Organization, global obesity treatment drug sales will increase 145.6% from 2.72 billion dollars in 2022 to 6.68 billion dollars (about 9 trillion won) in 2023. In particular, as sales growth continues, the global obesity treatment drug market size is expected to reach 48.03 billion dollars (about 64 trillion won) in 2028.
Amid rapid growth, domestic companies are also pursuing the development of obesity treatments.
Among domestic companies, Hanmi Pharmaceutical is the most advanced in developing obesity treatment drugs. Hanmi Pharmaceutical sees obesity management as a future growth engine and has been running the HOP project since September of last year. The HOP project aims to introduce various customized treatments that can help in all areas of obesity treatment.
Hanmi Pharmaceutical is conducting domestic phase 3 clinical trials of efpeglenatide, the leader of the HOP project. Efpeglenatide is being developed as a ‘Korean-tailored obesity treatment’ that reflects the body type and weight of Koreans. The clinical trial is expected to be completed in the second half of 2026, and it is expected to be launched in 2027 at the earliest.
In addition, Hanmi Pharm plans to present the results of follow-up nonclinical studies on HM15275, a next-generation innovative obesity treatment drug currently under development, at the American Society for the Study of Obesity in November. HM15275 is expected to have a weight loss effect of more than 25% while minimizing muscle loss. It is specialized in obesity treatment by optimizing the actions of each of the three receptors: glucagon-like peptide (GLP-1), gastric inhibitory peptide (GIP), and glucagon (GCG).
A Hanmi Pharmaceutical official said, “We will do our best to ensure that the first new obesity drug developed by a Korean pharmaceutical company using independent technology from start to finish can be created quickly and successfully.”
Ildong Pharmaceutical is developing a GLP-1 series obesity treatment through its research and development subsidiary, Unovia. Last month, Unovia began phase 1 clinical trials of ID110521156, a candidate for an obesity and diabetes drug.
Ildong Pharmaceutical is developing the substance into an oral formulation. Currently, obesity treatment drugs on the market are generally in the form of injections. Accordingly, patients must inject themselves into the abdomen or thighs. Ildong Pharmaceutical is developing the substance into an oral formulation to improve these shortcomings, increase convenience of administration, and increase manufacturing efficiency.
As a latecomer, Ildong Pharmaceutical is also considering technology exports for ID110521156. The company also explained that it has completed patent acquisition in major market countries such as Korea, the United States, China, Japan, India, and Australia to secure favorable conditions for commercialization.
An industry insider said, “As the obesity treatment market is growing rapidly, many companies are jumping into the market, but ultimately, price and competitiveness are important.”
[CEO스코어데일리 / 조희연 기자 / chy@ceoscore.co.kr]
Unauthorized reproduction and redistribution prohibited> Sent on 2024-09-19 07:00:00