HK inno.N has reported promising results for its obesity treatment drug Ecnoglutide in a Phase 1b clinical trial involving obese adolescents. The study showed a maximum reduction of 12.6% in Body Mass Index (BMI) and up to 12.1% in body weight at the 20-week mark.
On Tuesday, HK inno.N announced that its Chinese partner, Sciwind Bioscience, presented these findings at the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) conference held in Milan, Italy, on September 30.
The trial included 48 Chinese adolescents aged 12 to 17 who were administered either 1.2 mg, 1.8 mg, or 2.4 mg of Ecnoglutide or a placebo over a 20-week treatment period.
At the 20-week mark, the Ecnoglutide group showed a BMI decrease of 11.2% to 12.6% from baseline, with weight reductions of 10.4% to 12.1%. In contrast, the placebo group showed no significant changes in BMI and experienced a slight weight increase of 1.2%. The statistical significance of the weight change was P
The study also revealed reductions in waist and neck circumferences for the Ecnoglutide group. Improvements were noted in key metabolic and cardiovascular indicators, including HbA1c, triglycerides, and blood pressure, compared to the placebo group.<0.0001. The drug demonstrated favorable safety and tolerability profiles, with pharmacokinetic characteristics similar to those observed in adult studies. Ecnoglutide, a GLP-1 receptor agonist developed by Sciwind, is currently undergoing Phase 3 clinical trials in South Korea for obesity and diabetes treatments. HK inno.N acquired the domestic development and commercialization rights from Sciwind in 2024. Encouraged by these results, Sciwind plans to continue developing indications for adolescent obesity and is currently conducting Phase 3 trials targeting this demographic. HK inno.N Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Kwon Dal-won stated that these findings validate Ecnoglutide’s potential as a treatment for adolescent obesity. It’s exploring various strategies to offer diverse treatment options for patients in South Korea. HK inno.N’s acquisition of Ecnoglutide’s rights from Chinese Sciwind Bioscience in 2024 marks a significant step in their growth strategy. The company aims to establish Ecnoglutide as a cornerstone for future growth, targeting the obesity treatment market while also enhancing its product portfolio through potential indication expansions. HK inno.N’s history dates back to 1984 when it began as the pharmaceutical division of CJ CheilJedang. The company’s journey includes acquiring Hanil Pharmaceutical in 2006, becoming independent as CJ Healthcare in 2014 following a split from CJ CheilJedang, and being acquired by Kolmar Korea in 2018. In 2018, the company achieved a milestone with the approval of K-Cap, a treatment for gastroesophageal reflux disease, which became South Korea’s 30th domestically developed new drug. The product was launched the following year. The company rebranded as HK inno.N in 2020 and went public on the KOSDAQ in 2021.
