{
  "id": 2966024,
  "title": "Hanmi Licenses Obesity Drug To Genentech",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/24/hanmi-licenses-obesity-drug-to-genentech",
  "topic": "health",
  "section": "Health & Medicine",
  "published": "2026-08-24T07:08:16.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "BusinessKorea",
    "slug": "businesskorea",
    "url": "https://www.businesskorea.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=275381"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "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.\n\nThe 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.\n\nCurrently 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.\n\nVice 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.",
  "summary": "A next-generation obesity treatment candidate under development by Hanmi Pharmaceutical has achieved a massive technology export milestone worth up to $2.3 billion.Hanmi Pharmaceutical announced on August 24 that it signed an exclusive license agreement with Genentech, a subsidiary of the Roche Grou",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 5,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Investing.com",
        "title": "Hanmi Pharm shares jump 30% on Genentech obesity drug deal",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/24/hanmi-pharm-shares-jump-30-on-genentech-obesity-drug-deal",
        "published": "2026-08-24T05:16:46.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Yonhap News",
        "title": "Hanmi Pharm signs 3.2 tln-won licensing deal with Roche's Genentech for obesity drug candidate",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/24/hanmi-pharm-signs-3-2-tln-won-licensing-deal-with-roches-genentech",
        "published": "2026-08-24T06:00:25.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Korea Times",
        "title": "Hanmi Pharm signs $2.3 bil. licensing deal with Roche's Genentech for obesity drug candidate",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/24/hanmi-pharm-signs-2-3-bil-licensing-deal-with-roches-genentech-for",
        "published": "2026-08-24T06:27:02.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Endpoints News",
        "title": "Roche bets up to $2.3B on Hanmi’s early-stage muscle-building obesity asset",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/24/roche-bets-up-to-2-3b-on-hanmis-early-stage-muscle-building-obesity",
        "published": "2026-08-24T10:56:51.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}