Ten South Korean pharmaceutical and biotechnology firms are set to unveil advanced obesity treatment research at “ObesityWeek 2026,” held in Maryland from November 14 to 17.
The studies shift focus from simple weight loss toward muscle preservation, novel drug delivery systems like microneedle patches, and oral small-molecule therapeutics to improve patient compliance.
- Muscle Preservation: New drug candidates aim to mitigate the common side effect of lean muscle loss during rapid weight reduction by targeting proteins like myostatin.
- Enhanced Delivery: Research is moving away from daily injections toward long-acting, once-monthly injectables and skin-penetrating microneedle patches to reduce treatment burden.
- Metabolic Nuance: Emerging therapies are exploring multiple metabolic pathways beyond GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) to address co-morbidities like fatty liver disease and lipid imbalances.
The core challenge in modern weight-loss pharmacotherapy is the loss of lean body mass alongside adipose tissue. Hanmi Pharmaceutical is addressing this by presenting five studies, including the myostatin inhibitor HM500197, which is designed to prevent skeletal muscle degradation. By pairing this with incretin-based therapies, the company seeks to decouple fat loss from muscle atrophy.
OncoCil Therapeutics is also prioritizing body composition with OCN-501, a candidate designated as a “Late-Breaking Abstract” at the conference. Unlike standalone weight-loss drugs, OCN-501 is intended for co-administration with semaglutide to specifically preserve skeletal muscle, a strategy that differentiates it from current monotherapies.
D&D Pharmatech is investigating DD18, a peptide targeting the corticotropin-releasing factor receptor 2 (CRFR2). By regulating energy and muscle metabolism, the company aims to optimize body composition during weight reduction. Similarly, Reginotide by NIBEC targets both adipose tissue regulation and muscle regeneration, reflecting a broader industry trend toward comprehensive metabolic health rather than simple scale-weight reduction.
Daewoong Pharmaceutical is advancing DWRX5003, a semaglutide-loaded microneedle patch. In an ongoing Phase 1 clinical trial involving 72 participants, the company is evaluating the drug’s pharmacokinetics—how the body absorbs, distributes, and eliminates the medication—and its safety profile. Initial data from a 70-person pilot study indicated a relative bioavailability of over 80% compared to traditional injections, a metric for determining if the patch can effectively replace needle-based delivery.
Other firms are focusing on treatment duration. Alteogen is presenting animal study data for ALT-M5, an incretin fusion protein designed for once-monthly administration. A primary goal of this research is to evaluate the drug's ability to suppress weight regain after treatment cessation, a barrier in long-term obesity management.
| Company | Candidate | Target Mechanism | Stage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hanmi Pharm | HM500197 | Myostatin Inhibitor | Preclinical |
| Daewoong | DWRX5003 | Semaglutide Patch | Phase 1 |
| Dong-A ST | DA-1726 | GLP-1/Glucagon Dual Agonist | Phase 1 |
| Alteogen | ALT-M5 | Incretin Fusion Protein | Preclinical |
Dong-A ST and its U.S. subsidiary, MetVia, are presenting data on DA-1726, a dual agonist targeting both GLP-1 and glucagon receptors. Clinical trials have shown that while the drug reduces overall weight, it also specifically targets visceral and subcutaneous fat.
Data from a 16-week intermediate analysis of Part 3B of their Phase 1 trial showed a 13.5% weight loss compared to placebo, with a 68% reduction in liver fat as measured by MRI.
However, clinical trials also highlight the necessity of monitoring side effects. In the DA-1726 study, 9 out of 15 participants experienced gastrointestinal adverse events, including one report of severe vomiting. Such data shows the importance of balancing efficacy with tolerability in the development of new obesity therapies.
The research presented at ObesityWeek 2026 shows that obesity drug development is expanding its focus beyond weight loss to include body composition improvement, administration convenience, and new mechanisms of action.
