'Miracle Obesity Drug' GLP-1... Can It Also Cure Dementia and Parkinson's?

Glucagon-like peptide (GLP)-1 drugs, known as 'miracle obesity drugs,' are expanding their therapeutic scope beyond obesity and related metabolic diseases to degenerative brain diseases such as Alzheimer's dementia and Parkinson's disease.

Isulgi, CEO of DND Pharmatech, is presenting at BIX2024 held at COEX in Gangnam-gu, Seoul on the 10th.
[Photo by Lee Chunhee]

Seulgi Lee, CEO of D&D Pharmatech, emphasized the growing potential of GLP-1 therapies at the BioPlus Interphex (BIX) 2024 conference held on the morning of the 10th at COEX in Gangnam-gu, Seoul. Speaking on the theme "GLP-1: Trends in Expanding Indications in the Obesity Treatment Market," she stated, "Brain diseases represent another significant opportunity for the GLP-1 market to grow," highlighting the recent expansion of GLP-1 treatments.

Lee founded D&D Pharmatech in 2014 while serving as an associate professor at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in the United States. D&D Pharmatech is developing NLY01, a GLP-1-based treatment for Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's dementia.

Lee explained, "During my tenure at Johns Hopkins, I confirmed that GLP-1 enhances motor function in Parkinson's patients, which led me to develop a treatment." She added, "We began development focusing on microglial cells." Microglial cells act as a kind of 'cleaner' in our brain, removing debris that accumulates. However, if microglial cells go awry, they can eliminate necessary synapses or induce the secretion of neurotoxic substances. NLY01 works by selectively inhibiting the activity of microglial cells, thereby preventing neurotoxicity caused by these cells.

However, NLY01 failed to demonstrate efficacy in a Phase 2 clinical trial involving Parkinson's patients. Lee acknowledged the "failed clinical trial" but noted, "There was significant improvement in patients under 60 years old." This was based on a subgroup analysis of clinical results showing meaningful motor function improvement in the treatment group compared to placebo among patients under 60. Lee added, "We are confirming NLY01's effects by sharing clinical data with relevant foundations," and emphasized the need for larger clinical trials.

Lee also stressed, "Pharmaceutical companies should show strong interest in developing GLP-1 as a treatment for degenerative brain diseases." Novo Nordisk, a Danish company rapidly growing with its GLP-1 obesity drug Wegovy (semaglutide), is currently conducting Phase 3 clinical trials to expand Wegovy's use to dementia treatment. Clinical trials are also underway in Korea, involving 1,840 patients globally. Lee said, "Results will be available next year," adding, "This will be an important starting point for applying GLP-1 to Alzheimer's disease."

Choi In-young, Executive Director and Head of R&D Center at Hanmi Pharmaceutical, is giving a lecture at BIX2024 held on the 10th at COEX in Gangnam-gu, Seoul.
[Photo by Lee Chun-hee]

Meanwhile, during the session, domestic GLP-1 developers such as Hanmi Pharmaceutical, Dong-A ST, and Progen also presented their development statuses. Inyoung Choi, Head of R&D Center at Hanmi Pharmaceutical (Executive Vice President), emphasized, "While competition has focused on weight loss numbers, the 'quality of weight loss' is now crucial."

Hanmi Pharmaceutical is focusing on 'muscle mass' to secure this qualitative difference. Typically, during dieting, both fat and muscle mass decrease. Especially when weight loss is drug-induced, excessive muscle loss can lead to rebound weight gain after discontinuation.

However, HM15275, whose preclinical results were recently disclosed by Hanmi Pharmaceutical at the American Diabetes Association (ADA) meeting, aims to be a next-generation treatment with fewer such concerns. Through the triple action of GLP-1, glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP), and glucagon, it shows the same weight loss effect as existing obesity drugs while minimizing muscle loss as much as possible.

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