Hanmi Pharmaceutical, a key subsidiary of Hanmi Science, has gained encouraging preclinical transition study results for its groundbreaking obesity treatment, ‘LA-UCN2, HM17321.’ This development signals the company's advancement toward entering global Phase 1 clinical trials.
From August 20 to 24, 2025, Hanmi Pharmaceutical participated in the ISMB/ECCB conference held in Liverpool, UK. On August 5, the company announced that it had presented a poster showing preclinical research outcomes that demonstrated HM17321's ability to enhance muscle mass, strengthen muscular function, and improve metabolic health, all while aiding obesity reduction.
At the ISMB/ECCB conference, Hanmi unveiled machine learning-based analysis results integrating animal proteomics data with human biosourced big data to predict the likelihood of HM17321's efficacy in humans, as demonstrated in animal studies.
HM17321 is a UCN 2 (Urocortin 2) analogue, distinctively targeting the CRF2 (corticotropin-releasing factor 2) receptor instead of incretin receptors like GLP-1. It is designed using Hanmi Pharmaceutical's cutting-edge AI and structural modeling technologies.
This novel therapeutic agent is being developed as a 'first-in-class' obesity drug, not merely compensating for muscle loss but achieving 'muscle mass increase' alongside 'selective fat reduction,' previously deemed impossible.
The study compared the proteomes from the blood of animals administered HM17321 with those from humans with various diseases or physical traits. The results indicated that HM17321 induced proteomic changes akin to those found in individuals with low fat mass, high lean mass, and robust grip strength.
These findings reaffirm the efficacy of HM17321 in animal trials and suggest its potential realization in humans. Furthermore, it allows the exploration of additional efficacy, indications, and potential side effects that are challenging to confirm through a single animal trial, refining future preclinical and clinical development strategies and enhancing R&D efficiency.
Jae Min Jeon, Head of the Clinical Advancement Team at Hanmi R&D Center, stated, “The transition from preclinical to clinical stages is the most uncertain phase in the entire drug development process. This study provides a valuable tool for mitigating such uncertainties, significantly contributing to improving Hanmi's drug development efficiency.”
Hanmi's R&D Center Clinical Advancement Team is conducting research to anticipate clinical responses and side effects of new drug candidates developed in-house. This research is supported by multi-omics data and bio big data from animals and humans, combined with the latest bioinformatics techniques and machine learning approaches.
In Young Choi, Head of Hanmi R&D Center, remarked, “We have scientifically proven the likelihood of HM17321's pharmacological effects being reflected in humans, marking a significant achievement as it approaches Phase 1 trials. Presenting a new paradigm of 'qualitative reduction' that encompasses not just weight loss but also muscle function and metabolic health, we aim to set a ‘global standard in obesity treatment.’”
