Obesity is becoming a serious problem in Korea.

A recent statistical report published by the Ministry of Health and Welfare and the Korea Health Promotion Institute on Monday highlighted a worrying obesity trend in the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic, showing a sharp rise in obesity rates across all age groups in Korea.

According to the report, one in five children and adolescents, and two in five adults are now classified as obese.

The report, which draws on data from the last five years, including national health statistics, student health exams, and various surveys on youth health behavior, nutrition, and physical activity, indicates a 4.4 percentage point increase in obesity rates among children and adolescents (from 14.4 percent in 2018 to 18.7 percent in 2022) and a 2.6 percentage point increase among adults (from 34.6 percent to 37.2 percent in the same period).

In a strategic move to capitalize on the local and global surge in obesity rates and the corresponding demand for treatment options, Korean pharmaceutical companies are accelerating their development efforts in the obesity drug market.

Most recently, Hanmi Pharm submitted a phase 1 Investigational New Drug (IND) application to the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety for HM15275, targeting both healthy adults and obese patients.

The drug, part of Hanmi's comprehensive obesity treatment project H.O.P (Hanmi Obesity Pipeline), employs acylation technology, differing from its existing biopharmaceutical platform. HM15275 is designed to optimize the action on receptors for GLP-1, GIP, and glucagon, offering a specialized approach to obesity treatment while also addressing various metabolic diseases.

Preliminary nonclinical research has shown that it minimizes muscle loss while providing powerful efficacy in weight loss comparable to surgical methods and superior treatment efficacy in various metabolic disease models compared to existing obesity drugs. Hanmi Pharm expects HM15275 to be a next-generation obesity treatment that not only significantly reduces weight but also improves cardiovascular and kidney diseases.

Daewoong Pharmaceutical is preparing for phase 2 clinical trials of its combination obesity treatment DWP306001, which merges the appetite suppressant phentermine with its diabetes drug ingredient, enavogliflozin. Phentermine is a leading appetite suppressant in Korea, and its inclusion in DWP306001 suggests a potent approach to weight management.

Another notable contender, Dong-A ST, through its subsidiary NeuroBo Pharmaceuticals, is developing DA-1726, a dual-acting GLP-1 and glucagon receptor agonist for obesity and NASH (Non-Alcoholic Steatohepatitis) treatment.

DA-1726, which is being developed as a weekly injection, has demonstrated superior weight loss effects in preclinical studies, even compared to leading GLP-1 analogs, by simultaneously activating GLP-1 and glucagon receptors.

Daewon Pharm has gained regulatory approval for phase 1 clinical trials of DW-1022, an innovative microneedle patch version of Novo Nordisk's semaglutide-based obesity treatment, aiming to enhance patient convenience and reduce medication waste.

In the phase 1 clinical trial, the safety, pharmacokinetic characteristics, and relative bioavailability of DW-1022 will be evaluated in healthy adult volunteers, using Novo Nordisk's Wegovy as the comparator drug.

The target number of participants for the trial is 30. Three different doses of semaglutide will be administered once but will increase in a stepwise manner. The trial is scheduled to conclude in November of this year, and the results of the clinical trial are expected to be available within the year.

LG Chem ventures into the realm of oral treatments for rare obesity conditions with LB54640, targeting the MC4R pathway involved in satiety.

LG Chem completed the phase 1 clinical trial in the U.S. for LB54640 at the end of last year, targeting healthy overweight adults without genetic defects.

According to data from the Obesity Week 2022 conference, phase 1 results for LB54640, involving 96 patients with general obesity, confirmed its safety and dose-dependent weight loss.

The results from phase 1 showed tolerability across all doses (10mg~600mg), with the highest dose group experiencing up to 3 percent weight reduction over the course of the medication period. The most common side effects were mild to moderate nausea and vomiting.

LG Chem is aiming for regulatory approval for LB54640 by 2026 and plans to expand its indication to general obesity treatment as well.

The company intends to enter phase 2 clinical trial in the United States this year and commence global phase 2/3 trials for patients with genetic obesity due to pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) and leptin receptor (LEPR) deficiencies starting next year, which are indications that the company had obtained orphan drug designation from the FDA in the past.

Yuhan Corp. is tackling obesity with a novel mechanism through its development of the long-acting obesity treatment YH34160, which targets the GDF15 receptor in the brain to suppress appetite and induce weight loss.

Existing obesity drugs utilize GLP-1 analogs, which are hormones that increase insulin secretion. In contrast, YH34160 works by binding to the GDF15 receptors in the brain to suppress appetite and induce weight loss.

The preclinical trials for YH34160 have been completed, and preparations are underway for global phase 1 clinical trials this year. According to the preclinical results on obese animals released by the company, YH34160 has shown a weight loss of 11.9 percent.

Ildong Pharmaceutical is pursuing the development of oral obesity treatments, including ID110521156, a GLP-1 receptor agonist, and ID119031166, a treatment targeting the FXR pathway for its potential in NASH treatment.

Both drugs are currently in early clinical trials, aiming to offer new, effective options for managing obesity and related metabolic conditions.