South Korean biotech Hanmi Pharm has entered a multibillion-dollar licensing agreement with Genentech to co-develop a promising obesity drug candidate, marking a significant milestone in personalised obesity therapy.
Hanmi Pharm has struck an exclusive licensing deal with Genentech for HM17321, a drug candidate being developed for obesity and related conditions including type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. The agreement gives Genentech rights to develop, manufacture and commercialise the treatment worldwide, except in South Korea, according to the companies’ announcement.
The South Korean drugmaker said it will receive about $190 million upfront, with further development, regulatory and commercial milestones that could lift the deal’s total value to roughly $2.3 billion. Hanmi also stands to collect tiered royalties on future sales if the programme reaches the market, the statement said.
HM17321 is a non-incretin UCN2, or urocortin-2, analogue. Hanmi’s pipeline page says the compound is designed as a long-acting selective CRF2 receptor agent and has shown weight and fat-mass reduction, alongside an increase in lean mass, in preclinical studies. The company says the candidate is now in Phase 1 testing, where safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics are being assessed in healthy volunteers and people with obesity.
According to Hanmi, the firm will complete the Phase 1 study before Genentech takes over development from Phase 2 onwards. Korean media reports said the agreement allows Hanmi to keep Korean rights to the drug, while Genentech, part of the Roche Group, gains the global development and commercial lead elsewhere.
Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical judgment, advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
