Hanmi Signs Licensing Deal with Lilly for sonefpeglutide (LAPSGLP-2 analog)
The agreement gives Lilly exclusive rights outside Korea and includes $75 million upfront plus up to $1.185 billion in milestone payments.
- On Sunday, May 31, 2026, Hanmi Pharm entered a license agreement with Eli Lilly for the development, manufacturing, and commercialization of sonefpeglutide, a novel drug candidate incorporating Hanmi's proprietary LAPSCOVERY platform technology.
- Lilly's 2026 licensing activity is fueled by rocketing sales of its GLP-1-acting weight-loss and obesity therapies, including three vaccine company takeovers announced last week.
- Lilly is paying $75 million upfront for rights to sonefpeglutide, also known as HM15912, outside Korea, with an additional $1.185 billion possible in clinical development, regulatory, and commercial milestone payments.
- Hanmi is currently conducting a global Phase 2 clinical trial, DOLPHINS-2, in short bowel syndrome , which the company will continue while Lilly will "explore additional clinical trials for sonefpeglutide based on its non-clinical and clinical data."
- Takeda's once-daily, oral Gattex generated around $870 million globally last year, while competitors like Ironwood Pharma and Zealand Pharma develop their own GLP-2 candidates amid high unmet medical needs.
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Hanmi Pharmaceutical announced on the 1st that it has signed a license agreement with the U.S. pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly for the development, manufacturing, and commercialization of the novel biopharmaceutical candidate 'Sonepeglutide'. The contract is worth up to $1.26 billion (approximately 1.8973 trillion KRW). Hanmi Pharmaceutical will receive a non-refundable fixed upfront payment of $75 million (approximately 112.9 billion KRW). The…
Eli Lilly massively expands access to its GLP-1 drugs. Investors are now relying on new momentum in the booming US pharmaceutical market.
Lilly enters GLP-2 space in deal with Korea's Hanmi, also forges discovery pact with China's Haisco
Eli Lilly, which has made billions off of the success of its GLP-1 drugs, is now making a play for GLP-2s through a licensing deal with Hanmi. The Indianapolis drugmaker will pay $75 million upfront in a global pact for a GLP-2 analog called sonefpeglutide. The Seoul-based biotech could receive up to $1.185 billion in R&D, regulatory and sales milestone payments, on top of potential royalties.
pharmaceutical-technology.comPharmaceutical Business reviewLilly, Hanmi sign $1.26bn licensing deal for sonefpeglutide
Eli Lilly and Company has entered into a licensing agreement worth up to $1.26bn with Hanmi Pharm to develop, manufacture and commercialise Hanmi’s biologic drug candidate, sonefpeglutide, worldwide excluding Korea.
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