Celltrion Unveils Quadruple-Action Obesity Drug Candidate for First Time: "Weight Loss with Less Muscle Loss"

Preclinical results unveiled at peptide-focused conference
Greater weight-loss effect than retatrutide
Less loss of lean mass, including muscle and bone
IND application to FDA by February 2027

Celltrion has for the first time disclosed preclinical results for an obesity drug candidate that simultaneously targets four hormonal pathways. In animal studies of obesity, it reduced body weight more than Eli Lilly's retatrutide, considered a next-generation triple agonist, while causing less muscle loss.

A view of Celltrion's Plant 2 in Songdo, Yeonsu-gu, Incheon. Photo by Kim Hyunmin

Celltrion said it jointly presented preclinical research results for its obesity drug candidate CT-G32/SCO-940 with Japan's SCOHIA Pharma at TIDES Europe, a peptide-focused conference being held in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, from November 3 to 5 (local time). In experiments involving mice in which obesity was induced through diet, CT-G32/SCO-940 produced greater weight loss than retatrutide at the same dose. Lean body mass, including muscle and bone, also accounted for a smaller share of the weight lost than with the comparator drug.

CT-G32/SCO-940 simultaneously targets four hormonal pathways with a single molecule: glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP), glucagon, and amylin. Based on publicly disclosed development information, it is the only obesity drug candidate in the world to combine these four pathways in one candidate.

The candidate was also observed to reduce excessive blood insulin levels associated with obesity. The company sees this as evidence that the drug could be developed beyond obesity treatment to address metabolic diseases. A pharmacokinetic assessment in primates found that the drug remained in the body for an extended period, supporting the potential development of a once-weekly formulation.

Celltrion plans to submit an investigational new drug (IND) application to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) by February 2027 and, if the review proceeds smoothly, to begin dosing the first patient in the second quarter. The company intends to develop the candidate as a first-in-class drug that addresses both patient-to-patient differences in response to existing GLP-1 treatments and muscle loss during weight reduction.

Alongside its obesity drug candidate, Celltrion is expanding its new drug portfolio with candidates in Phase 1 clinical trials, including antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), multispecific antibody cancer drugs, and treatments for autoimmune diseases.

A Celltrion representative said, "Preclinical studies have confirmed the potential of CT-G32/SCO-940 to offer differentiation beyond existing dual and triple agonists. We will advance the candidate into clinical trials without delay and develop it as a next-generation treatment that addresses not only weight loss but also improvements in body composition and metabolism."

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