Ildong Pharmaceutical has received material patents in China and Japan for its metabolic disease drug candidate, ID110521156, which is being developed through its subsidiary Yunovia.
ID110521156 is the GLP-1 receptor agonist (glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist) family of drugs and acts as an analog of the GLP-1 hormone, which regulates blood sugar levels by inducing insulin secretion in the body.
GLP-1 hormone is produced by beta cells in the pancreas. It is involved in the synthesis and secretion of insulin in the body, reducing blood sugar levels, regulating gastrointestinal motility, and suppressing appetite.
According to Ildong Pharm, ID110521156 is a small molecule compound with the same function as GLP-1 hormone, which has the advantage of being relatively stable compared to biological agents, such as peptides, and is easy to design and synthesize in commercialization.
Earlier, Ildong confirmed the efficacy of ID110521156 in insulin secretion and blood sugar control and its superior safety compared to competing drugs in the same class through efficacy and toxicity evaluation using animal models of diseases.
The company aims to set itself apart by developing ID110521156 into an oral treatment that is highly competitive in manufacturing efficiency and marketability and convenient for patients to use by utilizing the characteristics of small molecule compounds.
Through its subsidiary Yunovia, Ildong is conducting a phase 1 clinical trial to evaluate the tolerability, safety, and pharmacokinetic properties of ID110521156. The company plans to develop it as a new drug targeting type 2 diabetes and obesity, depending on the progress of commercialization work such as clinical development.
"We have completed the acquisition of patents in major market countries, including Korea, the U.., China, Japan, India, and Australia, to have favorable conditions for commercialization," an Ildong Pharmaceutical official said. “In addition to securing rights to new substances, we plan to pursue business partnership strategies, such as licensing and open innovation."