Hanmi Pharm Signs Exclusive Licensing Deal with Genentech for Novel Obesity Therapy
The agreement gives Genentech worldwide rights outside South Korea and includes $190 million upfront, with total payments potentially reaching $2.3 billion.
- On Monday, South Korea's Hanmi Pharm signed a $2.3 billion licensing deal with Genentech, a member of the Roche Group, to develop HM17321, an obesity drug designed to reduce body fat while preserving lean muscle mass.
- Unlike existing GLP-1 therapies, HM17321 uses a proprietary UCN2 analog mechanism to promote weight loss while maintaining muscle function, representing a potentially differentiated treatment for obesity.
- Under the agreement, Hanmi will receive a $190 million upfront payment plus milestone payments and tiered royalties; Genentech gains exclusive worldwide rights, excluding South Korea, where Hanmi retains control.
- Following FDA clearance in November 2025, Hanmi will complete the ongoing Phase 1 clinical trial before Genentech assumes responsibility for development, starting with Phase 2 trials.
- Roche Corporate Business Development head Boris L. Zaitra stated the drug fits their cardiometabolic pipeline, with future development potentially including combination regimens with incretin-based treatments.
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Hanmi Pharmaceutical's shares fired almost 30% on the Seoul Stock Exchange on Monday (24), after the South Korean drug manufacturer signed a $2.31 billion licensing agreement with the North American biotechnology company Genentech to develop a treatment against obesity. Exclusive material for subscribers. To have full access, access the material link and register.
(Seoul = Yonhap News) Reporter Park Sang-hyun = Hanmi Pharmaceutical [128940] and Genentech, a subsidiary of Roche Group, [developed] the candidate substance 'HM17...' for the treatment of metabolic diseases such as obesity and type 2 diabetes.
The Courier-Tribune
Hanmi Pharm Signs Exclusive Licensing Deal with Genentech for Novel Obesity Therapy
HM17321, a proprietary UCN2 (urocortin-2) analog, is being developed as a treatment for chronic-weight management and associated conditions, including obesityTotal deal value of up to $2.3 billion, including upfront, milestone payments and tiered royalties based on net sales
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