'50th Anniversary' Hanmi Pharm's Next Venture Led by Owner's Second Generation: 'Obesity Treatment'

'H.O.P' Project Announcement
'Owner 2nd Generation' Eldest Daughter Im Juhyun Leading

Pipeline of 5 Types Built Starting with Efpeglenatide
Targeted for Release in 2025

Hanmi Pharmaceutical Group, which will celebrate its 50th anniversary next month, has chosen 'obesity' as its next-generation growth engine. Through the 'H.O.P (Hanmi Obesity Pipeline)' project led by the eldest daughter and 'second-generation owner' Im Juhyun, Head of Strategic Planning at Hanmi Science (President of Hanmi Pharmaceutical), the group aims to launch its first obesity drug in 2025 and build a pipeline consisting of a total of five products.

Lim Juhyun, Head of Strategic Planning at Hanmi Science (President of Hanmi Pharm) [Photo by Hanmi Pharm]

Hanmi Science, the holding company of Hanmi Pharmaceutical Group, announced on the 13th, "We have selected 'obesity management' as a powerful growth engine for the future of the group," adding, "We will build a differentiated, customized portfolio unique to Hanmi through the H.O.P project." This is interpreted as a plan to secure various pipelines for diabetes and obesity treatments, which have recently become hot trends in the pharmaceutical and biotech industries, and to make them the next-generation growth drivers. To this end, researchers from Hanmi Pharmaceutical's R&D Center, New Product Development Headquarters, Strategic Marketing Team, Pyeongtaek Bioplant, Paltan Formulation Research Institute, and Hanmi Precision Chemical, a company specializing in active pharmaceutical ingredients, will actively participate in the project.

The most advanced candidate is the GLP-1 class 'Epeglenatide (HM11260C),' which recently began the Phase 3 clinical trial approval process. Originally developed as a treatment for type 2 diabetes, the substance was licensed out to the global big pharma Sanofi in 2015, and various global Phase 3 clinical trials were conducted, but the related rights were returned to Hanmi Pharmaceutical in 2020. However, clinical trials on type 2 diabetes patients at that time confirmed improvements in glycated hemoglobin, blood sugar control effects, as well as significant weight loss and maintenance effects.

GLP-1 promotes insulin secretion and lowers blood sugar, so it was initially developed as a diabetes treatment. However, it was later found to have additional effects such as appetite suppression in the brain and delayed gastric emptying, leading to its expanded use as an obesity treatment. Currently, leading obesity drugs such as Eli Lilly's 'Mounjaro (Tirzepatide)' and Novo Nordisk's 'Saxenda (Liraglutide)' and 'Wegovy (Semaglutide)' were all first developed as GLP-1 class diabetes treatments before their obesity treatment efficacy was confirmed. Saxenda was re-released as an obesity treatment after being marketed as 'Victoza,' and Wegovy was re-released after being marketed as 'Ozempic' for diabetes treatment.

Hanmi Pharmaceutical Group plans to develop Epeglenatide as a 'Korean-customized GLP-1' obesity drug tailored to the obesity standards of Koreans, rather than for excessive weight loss. The innovative weight loss effect of over 20% seen overseas is considered potentially excessive for Korea, where the number of patients with severe obesity is relatively low. The target for development completion and launch is around 2025, when Wegovy and Mounjaro are expected to be launched domestically with obesity indications.

Novo Nordisk's GLP-1 class treatment 'Wegovy (active ingredient Semaglutide)'
[Photo by Novo Nordisk]

In addition, Hanmi Pharmaceutical Group has established four other pipelines. The plan is to have Epeglenatide as the basic obesity drug and to build a diverse portfolio that includes drugs for severely obese patients, prevention of muscle loss, suppression of rebound weight gain, and improvement of eating disorders, depending on the degree of obesity.

First, 'HM15275,' which significantly enhances fat reduction effects, is targeted for commercialization by 2030. It is a next-generation triple agonist (LA-GLP·GIP·GCG) that simultaneously activates GLP-1, glucagon (GCG) which increases energy metabolism, and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) which stimulates insulin secretion and suppresses appetite. Preclinical studies have confirmed efficacy comparable to about 25% weight loss seen in obesity metabolic surgeries such as gastric band surgery, surpassing current obesity treatments.

Notably, this drug applies Hanmi Pharmaceutical's next-generation proprietary platform technology. Unlike Hanmi Pharmaceutical Group's existing biopharmaceutical platform 'LabDiscovery,' this next-generation platform is nearing completion. In other words, it is a different candidate from 'Eposipegduatide (LabTriple Agonist),' another triple agonist (GLP·GIP·GCG) currently being developed as a treatment for non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH).

Additionally, Hanmi has recently identified candidates for biopharmaceuticals that can prevent muscle loss and help suppress rebound weight gain associated with GLP-1 treatments, as well as candidates that can improve eating disorders such as binge eating. Furthermore, by developing an oral peptide platform technology, Hanmi has confirmed the possibility of commercialization and plans to soon pursue the development of oral GLP-1 formulations.

Hanmi is also venturing into the development of digital therapeutics (DTx). Since lifestyle and medication safety must be considered when using obesity drugs, the plan is to provide solutions through DTx. This is expected to enhance the weight loss effects of administered drugs, strengthen drug safety, and help correct patient lifestyles.

Hanmi Pharmaceutical Research Center, Dongtan, Hwaseong-si, Gyeonggi [Photo by Hanmi Pharmaceutical]

In this way, Hanmi plans to sequentially introduce various 'customized therapeutics' that can assist not only in obesity treatment but also in prevention and post-weight loss management, covering the entire cycle of obesity care.

A Hanmi Science official said, "H.O.P means 'to hop' in English, and in French, it is an interjection used to encourage or urge someone to jump or move quickly. We expect the H.O.P project to become a new growth engine for Hanmi as it prepares for another leap forward on its 50th anniversary."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.