Korean pharmaceutical companies are moving quickly to introduce GLP-1 analogs (glucagon-like peptide-1), which has emerged as a dominant trend for developing obesity treatments.

GLP-1 is a hormone secreted by the intestines when food is consumed. It promotes insulin secretion and inhibits glucagon secretion, which is important for blood sugar control. This process targets the brain's appetite center, suppressing appetite and making people feel fuller for longer periods of time with fewer meals, which explains why it has gained attention in the obesity treatment market.

A case in point is Novo Nordisk's semaglutide-based obesity drug, Wegovy, the leading obesity treatment. GLP-1 analogs are drugs that act similarly to GLP-1.

On May 2, HK inno.N signed a license and partnership agreement with Chinese biotech company Sciwind Biosciences for the domestic development and commercialization of GLP-1 analog, ecnoglutide (XW003).

Under the agreement, HK inno.N will pay Scywind upfront and tiered milestone payments, as well as an ongoing royalty based on post-launch sales, and will have the exclusive right to develop and commercialize ecnoglutide in Korea.

Ecnoglutide is a once-weekly injectable in phase 3 clinical trials in China for type 2 diabetes and obesity. In phase 2 studies in China and Australia, it has proven to be safe and effective in lowering blood sugar and reducing weight.

HK inno.N plans to simultaneously conduct a phase 3 trial of ecnoglutide in type 2 diabetes and obesity in Korea.

Handok is also introducing a GLP-1 analog-based obesity treatment in Korea.

Last Friday, Handok said it had signed an exclusive sales and distribution agreement with Biocon, an India-based biopharmaceutical company, for its liraglutide-based obesity treatment in Korea.

Liraglutide, developed by Biocon, is a GLP-1 analog based on synthetic peptide technology. It is used to lower blood sugar in diabetic patients and reduce weight in obese patients. Another obesity drug with the same ingredient is Novo Nordisk's Saxenda.

The agreement will put Handok in charge of domestic licensing, sales, and distribution of the obesity treatment.

In addition, more than 10 Korean pharmaceutical and biotech companies are developing GLP-1 analog-based obesity treatments. The 10 companies are Hanmi Pharmaceutical, Kwangdong Pharmaceutical, Daewon Pharmaceutical, Dong-A ST, Yuhan Corp., Ildong Pharmaceutical, Inventage Lab, D&D Pharmatech, Peptron, and KoBioLabs.

Hanmi Pharmaceutical is the fastest-developing obesity drug. In January, Hanmi Pharmaceutical's GLP-1-based obesity treatment efpeglenatide started a phase 3 clinical trial in Korea. The target clinical endpoint is the first half of 2026, and Hanmi Pharmaceutical aims to commercialize efpeglenatide in Korea within the next three years.

D&D Pharmatech, KoBioLabs, and Ildong Pharmaceutical are developing oral obesity drugs, while Daewon Pharmaceutical, Kwangdong Pharmaceutical, and Dong-A ST are developing GLP-1-based obesity drugs in patch-type microneedle formulations.

"IQVIA predicts that among the major disease therapeutic groups that will drive the pharmaceutical market growth through 2027, the highest growth rate will be for obesity drugs, with a compound annual growth rate of more than 35 percent," said Kwon Hae-soon, an analyst at Eugene Investment & Securities. "The recent craze for obesity drugs is unlikely to end in the short term, and the market is expected to reach more than $100 billion (136.8 trillion won) by 2030."