Moa Life Plus and Pepgen Begin Full-Scale Joint Development of Semaglutide Biosimilar "PG004"

원본보기 아이콘

KOSDAQ-listed company Moa Life Plus and peptide-based pharmaceutical biosimilar specialist Pepgen announced on December 3 that, following their recent technology collaboration MOU, they have officially entered a substantive phase of cooperation for the joint development and commercialization of the semaglutide-based biosimilar "PG004."

Moa Life Plus has decided to make a strategic investment to support Pepgen's clinical trials and global business expansion, and is currently discussing detailed investment schedules. Through this collaboration, the companies have formalized a development roadmap to secure a leading position in the next-generation obesity and metabolic disease therapeutics market.

The market views this move not as a simple business agreement, but as a strategic declaration aimed at securing leadership in a high-growth global sector. In particular, GLP-1 class obesity treatments, which are attracting explosive global attention, have become key pipelines that are transforming the paradigm of the global pharmaceutical market, leading to intensified competition in technology, supply, and commercialization.

Pepgen's semaglutide biosimilar PG004 offers platform competitiveness with the potential to develop not only injectable formulations but also oral dosage forms, greatly expanding its market potential. The oral GLP-1 market is rapidly emerging as a core segment within the industry.

According to a Grand View Horizon report, the oral semaglutide and GLP-1 formulation market is expected to grow from USD 3.28 billion last year at an average annual rate of 11.1%, reaching USD 12.66 billion by 2035. The combination of improved medication convenience and rising demand is positioning this sector as a key competitive area in the next-generation metabolic disease therapeutics market.

Pepgen's ongoing process optimization has enabled it to achieve world-class production yields of over 4g/L and purity levels above 98% for semaglutide, securing top-tier manufacturing technology and cost competitiveness globally. This production capability is considered a crucial factor for ensuring supply stability and price competitiveness in the oral formulation market, further enhancing the likelihood of the collaboration’s success.

Based on this joint development project, the two companies plan to accelerate clinical entry and actively pursue early commercialization to expand into the global market. Future business areas may extend to obesity and metabolic disease therapeutics, premium healthcare and nutrition products, and medical food and functional products, generating significant synergies.

A Moa Life Plus representative stated, "With the global obesity treatment market experiencing explosive growth, the collaboration between Moa Life Plus and Pepgen will serve as a key milestone for securing market leadership. Through the joint development of PG004, we aim to simultaneously enhance treatment efficiency and market competitiveness, creating a meaningful breakthrough in the global healthcare and biotech markets."

© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.