HK inno.N, Kinesciences partner to advance KINE-101 as new sarcopenia drug

HK inno.N said Tuesday it recently signed a joint research and development agreement with Kinesciences for KINE-101, a novel drug candidate based on an inflammation-regulating peptide, for the treatment of sarcopenia.

Under this agreement, HK inno.N will lead the phase 2 clinical trial of KINE-101 in Korea, while Kinesciences will be responsible for the production of investigational new drug (IND) materials and technical support.

The two companies plan to closely collaborate to ensure rapid clinical entry and secure domestic commercialization potential, with the aim of initiating phase 2 clinical trials next year.

KINE-101 is a peptide derived from ERDR1 (Erythroid Differentiation Regulator 1), a protein critical for controlling how the body responds to inflammation. ERDR1 helps regulate immune responses by promoting balance when inflammatory responses are triggered. KINE-101 is being developed as an innovative drug candidate that helps the immune system maintain balance and reduces harmful inflammation.

This compound has completed a phase 1 clinical trial in the U.S. as a treatment for rheumatoid arthritis and has also completed a trial in Korea for chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP), a rare neurological disorder in which the body's immune system attacks the nerves' protective covering. It is also reported to have completed laboratory and animal (non-clinical) studies for the new sarcopenia indication.

Sarcopenia arises from various causes, including aging, obesity, and metabolic disorders. With the rapidly aging global population, the number of patients is increasing rapidly. The prevalence of sarcopenia in the Korean population aged 65 and older is reported to be approximately 9.5 percent for men and 9.3 percent for women, and demand for related treatments continues to grow.

Under this joint development agreement, synergistic effects in improving muscle mass reduction through co-administration with HK inno.N's obesity treatment IN-B0009, currently in phase 3 clinical trials in Korea, are also anticipated. Most obesity treatments currently developed or in development have the limitation of causing muscle mass loss alongside weight reduction. KINE-101 is therefore evaluated to hold differentiated value as a muscle-preserving treatment.

“We are continuously strengthening our chronic disease treatment portfolio in preparation for an aging society,” HK inno.N CEO Kwak Dal-won said. “We will collaborate with Kinesciences to focus on developing sarcopenia treatments, aiming not only to secure the domestic market but also to actively pursue global technology transfer.”

Kinesciences CEO Cho Dae-ho stated, “KINE-101 is an innovative peptide drug candidate that activates regulatory T cells (Tregs) to restore immune homeostasis, demonstrating therapeutic potential across multiple immune and inflammatory diseases.”

Cho added, “Through this collaboration, we will successfully lead the development of a treatment for sarcopenia in the elderly.”