ProGen's obesity and diabetes treatment chosen for trial project by KDDF

ProGen announced on Wednesday that its dual-target obesity and diabetes treatment, PG-102, has been selected as a support project for a phase 1 trial of the Korea Drug Development Fund (KDDF), led by Director Park Yeong-min.

The project's goal is to accelerate the clinical development and early release of PG-102, positioning it as a new treatment for obesity and diabetes on a global scale.

PG-102 utilizes ProGen's proprietary NTIG technology, a multi-target fusion protein platform that acts as a bispecific agonist for glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) and GLP-2 receptors, setting it apart from existing GLP-1 analogs. PG-102 is being developed as a treatment for obesity and diabetes by leveraging GLP-2's functions—improving intestinal function, promoting glucose uptake in adipose tissue, and controlling chronic inflammation. Its asymmetric activation regulation of GLP-1 and GLP-2 receptors optimizes safety and efficacy.

ProGen said, in preclinical animal models, PG-102 showed more than twice the fat-selective reduction efficacy compared to semaglutide and tirzepatide.

It also demonstrated improved blood glucose control in hyperglycemia with a lower risk of hypoglycemia, and exhibited anti-inflammatory effects, the company said. These outcomes are attributed to the combined mechanisms of GLP-2, which could potentially address various side effects associated with existing GLP-1-based treatments.

Since October of last year, ProGen has confirmed the safety and excellent tolerability of PG-102 through a phase 1a single ascending dose (SAD) study conducted at Seoul St. Mary's Hospital.

The company is collaborating with domestic and international research teams as well as chemistry, manufacturing, and controls (CMC) specialists to ensure successful global clinical trials and commercialization.

ProGen is also developing a 2,000 liter commercial production process in partnership with an overseas CDMO to secure competitive pricing.

ProGen is conducting a phase 1b multiple ascending dose (MAD) study and plans to initiate multinational Phase 2 clinical trials next year, including in the U.S. and Europe.

"The selection of PG-102 for KDDF is a testament to its differentiated pharmacological mechanisms and efficacy, as well as Progen's R&D capabilities,” Kim Jong-gyun, CEO of ProGen, said. “As we move into late-stage clinical development, we will focus all our efforts on establishing PG-102 as a blockbuster drug with advantages in the competitive global market for GLP-1 analogs and multi-target drugs."