Obesity Drug Introduced by HK inno.N Reduces Weight by Up to 12.1% in Obese Adolescents After 20 Weeks in Clinical Trial

Ecnoglutide Shows Results in China Phase 1b Trial
BMI Decreases by Up to 12.6% and Improvements Seen in Metabolic Indicators

HK inno.N announced on October 6 that its Chinese partner, Sciwind Biosciences, presented the results of a Phase 1b clinical trial of the glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) class obesity treatment, "Ecnoglutide," targeting obese adolescents. The announcement was made following the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) conference held in Milan, Italy, on September 30 (local time).

Ecnoglutide is the world’s first cAMP (cyclic adenosine monophosphate)-biased GLP-1 receptor agonist class drug, characterized by enhanced signaling selectivity to secure both efficacy and safety. In 2024, HK inno.N introduced Ecnoglutide from Sciwind and is currently conducting Phase 3 clinical trials in Korea for the treatment of obesity and diabetes.

This Phase 1b clinical trial was conducted to evaluate the safety, pharmacokinetic properties, effects on weight and BMI reduction, and improvements in major metabolic indicators of Ecnoglutide in obese adolescents. A total of 48 Chinese obese adolescents aged 12 to 17 participated in the trial. Participants were randomly assigned to receive Ecnoglutide at 1.2 mg, 1.8 mg, 2.4 mg, or placebo, and underwent treatment for 20 weeks.

The study found that participants receiving Ecnoglutide continued to experience weight loss from week 4 through week 20. At week 20, BMI in the treatment groups decreased by 11.2% to 12.6% compared to baseline, while no significant changes were observed in the placebo group. Body weight in the treatment groups decreased by 10.4% to 12.1%, whereas the placebo group saw an increase of 1.2%. Waist circumference and neck circumference also decreased in the Ecnoglutide treatment groups, and key cardiovascular and metabolic indicators—including HbA1c, triglycerides, and blood pressure—tended to improve compared to those in the placebo group.

Dalwon Kwak, CEO of HK inno.N, said, "These study results are a meaningful achievement, confirming the potential of Ecnoglutide as a treatment for adolescent obesity. We are also reviewing a variety of development strategies to provide domestic patients with more treatment options."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.