Celltrion unveils world’s first quadruple-acting obesity drug candidate, releases preclinical results

[Financial News] Celltrion is stepping up development of next-generation drugs that could overcome the limitations of existing GLP-1-based obesity treatments. The company has unveiled, for the first time, preclinical results for a candidate that combines GLP-1 and GIP with glucagon and amylin to create the world’s first quadruple-acting obesity treatment. The findings show not only weight-loss effects but also the potential to reduce muscle loss and improve metabolic markers, drawing interest in the candidate’s potential to expand beyond obesity treatment into metabolic diseases.
Celltrion said on the 4th that it presented preclinical research results for CT-G32/SCO-940, an obesity drug candidate it is co-developing with Japan’s SCOHIA Pharma, at TIDES Europe, which opened on the 3rd (local time) in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
CT-G32/SCO-940 is a quadruple agonist that simultaneously targets four hormonal pathways—GLP-1, GIP, glucagon and amylin—with a single candidate molecule. Based on development programs publicly disclosed to date, it is the world’s first obesity drug candidate to combine all four mechanisms. It brings a differentiated mechanism to an obesity drug market that has evolved from single GLP-1 agonists to dual and triple agonists.
In a study using an animal model of obesity, the candidate produced greater weight loss than Eli Lilly’s retatrutide, a leading triple agonist, at the same dose. In particular, the proportion of weight loss accounted for by reductions in lean mass, including muscle and bone, was lower than with the comparator drug. The result is notable as the ability to preserve muscle mass during weight loss, beyond simply reducing body weight, is emerging as a new point of competition among obesity treatments.
The candidate was also observed to lower excessively high blood insulin levels associated with obesity. The findings point to the potential to improve insulin-related metabolic markers alongside weight loss, and are expected to provide a basis for expanding development into metabolic diseases as well as obesity.
The candidate also showed potential in terms of dosing convenience. A pharmacokinetic evaluation in primates found that drug exposure in the body was sustained over an extended period, supporting the development of a once-weekly formulation. Celltrion plans to submit an investigational new drug application (IND) to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) by February next year and begin global clinical trials, aiming to dose the first patient in the second quarter of that year.
The candidate is also significant as Celltrion seeks to diversify its growth drivers beyond a business structure centered on biosimilars and into novel drugs. The company is expanding its drug pipeline to include obesity treatments, antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), multispecific antibody cancer drugs and treatments for autoimmune diseases. Its strategy is to broaden its medium- and long-term business base by applying to novel drug development the global clinical trial, regulatory approval, manufacturing and commercialization capabilities it has built through its biosimilar business.
A Celltrion official said, “Preclinical studies confirmed the potential to differentiate this candidate from existing dual and triple agonists,” adding, “We will develop it as a next-generation treatment that addresses not only weight loss but also improvements in body composition and metabolism.” 


[email protected] Jung Sang-hee Reporter