Hanmi Pharm Confirms Possibility of Developing Once-Monthly Dosage New Drug for Short Bowel Syndrome

Three Research Achievements Presented as Posters at the World Endocrinology Congress

Hanmi Pharmaceutical will newly announce major research results of two rare disease treatment candidates, including a short bowel syndrome treatment being developed as the world's first once-monthly formulation.

Hanmi Pharmaceutical Headquarters. [Photo by Hanmi Pharmaceutical]

Hanmi Pharmaceutical announced on the 16th that it will participate in the Endocrine Society (ENDO) conference held in Chicago, USA, from the 15th (local time) to the 18th, presenting three research results in poster sessions on 'LAPS GLP-2 analog (HM15912),' being developed as a treatment for short bowel syndrome, and 'LAPS Glucagon analog (HM15136),' being developed as a treatment for congenital hyperinsulinism.

Short bowel syndrome and congenital hyperinsulinism are rare diseases with no current treatments or with clear limitations in existing therapies. Short bowel syndrome is a rare disease caused by congenital or acquired reasons, resulting in the loss of more than 60% of the entire small intestine, leading to malabsorption and malnutrition. It occurs in about 24.5 out of 100,000 newborns, with a survival rate below 50%.

Congenital hyperinsulinism is a rare disease occurring in about 1 in 25,000 to 50,000 people. Although one treatment has been approved so far, the response rate is low, so patients rely on off-label drugs despite side effects or undergo pancreatic resection surgery.

First, Hanmi Pharmaceutical will introduce two research results on the short bowel syndrome treatment candidate, LAPS GLP-2 analog, at this conference. The study compared the effects of LAPS GLP-2 analog on promoting the growth of small intestinal villus cells and absorption capacity. When switching from daily or once-weekly treatments to the once-monthly LAPS GLP-2 analog, superior efficacy was observed. Hanmi Pharmaceutical explained that this not only reduces the dosing frequency for patients who previously received daily doses but also demonstrates an additional small intestine growth-promoting effect.

The other candidate, LAPS Glucagon analog, improves the short half-life and physicochemical properties of glucagon, which promotes glucose synthesis in the body, and is being developed as a treatment for congenital hyperinsulinism characterized by persistent severe hypoglycemia. In this study, repeated administration of LAPS Glucagon analog in a congenital hyperinsulinism animal model dose-dependently improved severe hypoglycemia, and the effect maintained normal blood glucose levels continuously.

A Hanmi Pharmaceutical official said, "Developing treatments for rare diseases is an area that pharmaceutical companies focusing on new drug development must pursue to the end, considering the great suffering experienced by patients and their families," adding, "We will concentrate our research capabilities to rapidly commercialize these two candidates that can present a new treatment paradigm."

Notice regarding the presentation content of 'ENDO 2023' posted on Hanmi Pharmaceutical's English website.
[Image provided by Hanmi Pharmaceutical]

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