D&D Pharmatech’s US partner starts North American study for oral GLP-1 obesity drug

D&D Pharmatech said Friday that its U.S. partner Metsera has begun the North American clinical trial of DD02S (MET-002 in trademark name), an oral GLP-1 obesity treatment.

In April 2023, D&D Pharmatech signed a technology transfer agreement with Metsera for three products, including DD02S and DD03 (an oral triple-agonist), for a total value of about 590 billion won ($425 million). In March this year, the company's technology transfer agreement with Metsera was expanded to a total of six items (five oral products and an injectable GLP-1 triple agonist, with a total contract value of about 1.1 trillion won ($ 830 million)) by signing an amended and supplemental agreement for oral amylin and an injectable GLP-1 triple agonist.

Among the six products, DD02S, an oral GLP-1 receptor agonist, is the most advanced in development and has completed the first patient dose after submitting and receiving approval for clinical approval in North America in September. As a result, D&D Pharmatech will receive the first development milestone payment from Metsera under the technology transfer agreement.

The study will evaluate the safety, tolerability, efficacy and pharmacokinetics of DD02S following single and multiple ascending oral doses in overweight and obese adults. The study will be conducted in overweight and obese adults.