Ildong Pharmaceutical discusses out-licensing Padofrazan and an oral obesity drug at BIO-Europe

[Financial News] Ildong Pharmaceutical held discussions on the overseas commercialization of a gastroesophageal reflux disease treatment and an oral obesity drug candidate at Europe’s largest pharmaceutical and biotech partnering event. The company is seeking technology out-licensing and co-development opportunities with global pharmaceutical companies, drawing on its pipeline that has entered domestic clinical development.
Ildong Pharmaceutical said on the 12th that it had attended “2026 BIO-Europe,” held in Cologne, Germany, from the 9th to the 11th, and held partnering meetings with global pharmaceutical and biotech companies. The main candidates discussed were Padofrazan, a P-CAB treatment candidate for gastroesophageal reflux disease, and “ID110521156,” an oral GLP-1 receptor agonist.
Padofrazan is a drug candidate discovered by Ildong Pharmaceutical. In 2024, the company signed a joint development and licensing agreement with Daewon Pharmaceutical. Daewon Pharmaceutical has completed a Phase 3 trial following a domestic Phase 2 trial and recently shared key results with Ildong Pharmaceutical.
In a Phase 3 trial involving patients with erosive gastroesophageal reflux disease, Padofrazan demonstrated non-inferiority to esomeprazole, a proton pump inhibitor (PPI), and met the primary endpoint. Ildong Pharmaceutical plans to flesh out its commercialization strategy, including a domestic product launch, while pursuing regional licensing deals and business partnerships using its overseas rights.
ID110521156, which targets metabolic diseases such as obesity and diabetes, was also a key topic of discussion. It is a low-molecular-weight compound-based oral GLP-1 receptor agonist being developed as a pill, unlike peptide-based injectable drugs. Based on the Phase 1 results completed this year, Ildong Pharmaceutical is exploring follow-up collaborations, including technology transfers and co-development.
According to Ildong Pharmaceutical, a weight reduction of up to 13.8% was observed four weeks after administration in the Phase 1 trial. No serious adverse events related to gastrointestinal disorders or hepatotoxicity were reported in the safety assessment. However, as these are early-stage trial results, the weight-loss effects and safety will need further confirmation in future trials involving patients.
An Ildong Pharmaceutical representative said, "At this event, discussions were held on business partnerships, including regional licensing-out deals, not only for GLP-1 candidates but also for the P-CAB candidate Padofrazan."

[email protected] Jung Sang-hee Reporter