Hanmi Licenses Obesity Drug To Genentech

Hanmi Pharmaceutical has licensed its obesity treatment candidate, HM17321, to Genentech, a subsidiary of the Roche Group, for a lucrative deal potentially worth up to $2.3 billion. This exclusive agreement grants Genentech the rights to develop, manufacture, and commercialize HM17321 globally, except in South Korea. Hanmi will receive an upfront payment of $190 million and is set to earn up to $2.3 billion based on future developments and commercialization stages.

The peptide-based drug, a UCN2 analog, is unique as it targets weight reduction without causing a loss in muscle mass, addressing a limitation of existing GLP-1 based treatments. Non-clinical studies have shown promising results, indicating that HM17321 can induce weight loss even when administered alone and yields even better outcomes when combined with GLP-1 class treatments. Its versatility extends beyond current treatments due to its peptide nature, potentially leading to fixed-dose combinations in the future.

Currently in the clinical phase, HM17321 has received FDA approval for its phase 1 trial plan. Hanmi Pharmaceutical is evaluating safety and pharmacokinetics on healthy adults and obese patients. Once the ongoing phase 1 trial is completed, Genentech will take the helm for full-scale development starting from the phase 2 trial.

Vice President Choi In-young of Hanmi Pharmaceutical emphasized the evolving approach to obesity treatment, focusing on improving body composition and metabolic health. The Roche side highlighted their commitment to addressing unmet medical needs through a differentiated strategy aimed at selectively reducing fat mass while enhancing muscle function.