Gan & Lee Pharmaceutical announced that its U.S. subsidiary has received FDA clearance to proceed with a Phase II clinical trial of GZR18 injection. This long-acting GLP-1 receptor agonist is being developed for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus and for weight management in obese and overweight individuals.
Clinical Significance of GZR18
GZR18 injection represents a potential advancement in the treatment of both type 2 diabetes and obesity. As a GLP-1 receptor agonist, it mimics the effects of incretin hormones, stimulating insulin release and reducing glucagon secretion in a glucose-dependent manner. This mechanism can lead to improved glycemic control and weight loss.
The World Obesity Federation's (WOF) Global Obesity Report (2024) indicates that approximately 2.2 billion adults worldwide were overweight in 2020, representing about 42% of the adult population. Projections estimate this number will rise to 3.3 billion by 2035, highlighting the urgent need for effective therapeutic interventions.
Gan & Lee's Recent Corporate Activities
In addition to the FDA approval, Gan & Lee Pharmaceutical has been involved in several corporate activities. The controlling shareholder, Gan Zhongru, released 26.5 million shares. Following this release, Gan Zhongru and Beijing Xute Hongda collectively hold 41.82% of the company's total share capital, with 39.35 million shares pledged, accounting for 15.65% of their holdings and 6.55% of the company’s total share capital. The company has also completed the cancellation of 12,086,237 stock options under the 2021 equity incentive plan.
Market Context
The broader biologics sector experienced a decline of 1.58% recently, while Gan & Lee Pharmaceutical's stock rose 0.68% during the same period, with a total weekly turnover of 1.776 billion yuan. As of the close of the week, Gan & Lee Pharmaceutical's share price was 46.19 yuan.
