JW Pharmaceutical (001060.KS) has moved to introduce a new glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) drug as part of its strategy to enter the obesity and diabetes treatment market.
JW Pharmaceutical announced Wednesday that it has signed a license-in agreement with Chinese pharmaceutical company Gan & Lee Pharmaceuticals for the metabolic disease treatment "Bofanglutide (GZR18)." Through this agreement, JW Pharmaceutical has secured exclusive rights for domestic commercialization of the drug.
The total contract value is $81.1 million (approximately 122.2 billion won), with an upfront payment of $5 million (approximately 7.5 billion won). Milestone payments tied to clinical trials, regulatory approval, and net sales achievements amount to $76.1 million (approximately 114.7 billion won). Royalties will be paid separately in tiers based on sales.
Bofanglutide is a GLP-1 receptor agonist that binds to GLP-1 receptors in pancreatic beta cells, stimulating insulin secretion and suppressing glucagon secretion according to glucose levels. It also delays gastric emptying to increase satiety and induce weight loss.
The drug candidate is being developed for indications including obesity, type 2 diabetes, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH). Phase 2b clinical trials conducted in China confirmed reductions in body weight and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels compared to baseline.
Phase 3 clinical trials for obesity and type 2 diabetes are currently underway in China, while Phase 2 trials for the same indications are ongoing in the United States. The drug is expected to launch in China in 2028.
"GZR18 is being developed as a biweekly subcutaneous injection formulation, which could differentiate it from existing once-weekly GLP-1 treatments in terms of dosing convenience," a JW Pharmaceutical official said. "Future Phase 3 trials will proceed according to consultations and approval processes with regulatory authorities, and the schedule may be subject to change."