Daewoong Pharmaceutical is stepping up its push into global markets by leveraging next-generation drug delivery technologies, including long-acting injectables, microneedle patches and highly concentrated formulations of biologic drugs.
The company said on the 2nd that it presented research and development achievements involving its next-generation drug delivery platforms at PODD 2026 (Partnership Opportunities in Drug Delivery), an international drug delivery technology conference held in Boston, Massachusetts, from the 29th to the 30th of last month.
At the event, Daewoong showcased three technologies: CURE, its long-acting injectable platform; CLOPAM, its microneedle platform; and Thermicra, a platform for highly concentrated biologic formulations.
Kwan-young Kim, head of Daewoong’s Pharmaceutical Formulation Technology Center, delivered a presentation on the first day of the conference, the 29th of last month, titled “Next-Generation Drug Delivery Platform Solutions for Peptides and Biologics.” He shared strategies for selecting delivery technologies suited to specific drug characteristics and development goals, along with key research achievements for each platform.
CURE uses microparticles made from biodegradable polymers to enable drugs to be released gradually over a sustained period. Daewoong presented pharmacokinetic research findings from applying the technology to peptide drugs, as well as advances in formulation and manufacturing process development designed to support large-scale production.
CLOPAM is a patch-based platform that delivers drugs through the skin using microscopic needles. Daewoong presented findings on the absorption and blood concentration profiles of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) drugs used to treat obesity and diabetes, along with progress in precision manufacturing and process automation.
Thermicra is designed to produce highly concentrated formulations of biologic drugs, including antibodies, allowing them to be administered subcutaneously in smaller volumes. At the conference, the company presented development results for highly concentrated antibody and antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) formulations, as well as evaluations of drug absorption and activity in the body.
In May, Daewoong entered into a strategic partnership with Tion Lab Therapeutics to develop a once-monthly, long-acting obesity treatment containing semaglutide. The companies agreed to combine Daewoong’s proprietary CURE platform with Tion Lab Therapeutics’ Qject Sphere technology.
In the microneedle field, Daewoong received approval in October last year for the clinical trial application for DWRX5003, a semaglutide patch-based obesity treatment jointly developed with Daewoong Therapeutics. The program has entered a development stage in which drug absorption and safety will be evaluated against injectable formulations.
More recently, the company established a dedicated sterile clinical drug manufacturing facility for microneedle products at Daewoong Bio’s third plant. It is also building its production capabilities with the goal of obtaining Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) certification in the first half of 2027.
During the conference, Daewoong also held one-on-one business meetings with global pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies. The discussions focused on potential joint development and technology partnerships involving the application of Daewoong’s platforms to external drug candidates, as well as identifying the needs of potential global partners.
Building on the network established at the event, the company plans to match its drug delivery technologies to the characteristics and development stages of individual drug candidates and work with global partners to develop strategies for differentiating products.
Sung-soo Park, CEO of Daewoong Pharmaceutical, said, “To strengthen the competitiveness of new drugs, it is important to have delivery technologies optimized for each drug’s characteristics, along with the formulation and manufacturing capabilities to turn those technologies into actual products. We will apply suitable platforms to drug candidates from global pharmaceutical companies and work to translate these opportunities into tangible business partnerships.”
