Hanmi Pharmaceutical is preparing to unveil breakthrough research on two next-generation obesity drug candidates that could address critical limitations of current GLP-1-based therapies, including inevitable muscle loss. The South Korean pharmaceutical company will present six studies on HM15275 and HM17321 at the American Diabetes Association (ADA) 2025 annual meeting, scheduled for June 20-23 in Chicago.
The presentations mark a pivotal moment for Hanmi's H.O.P (Hanmi Obesity Pipeline) Project, which aims to provide personalized solutions across the full spectrum of obesity management. Both drug candidates represent next-generation pipelines following efpeglenatide, which is targeted for commercialization in the second half of 2026.
HM15275 Demonstrates Superior Weight Loss with Lean Mass Preservation
HM15275, a triple agonist engineered to optimize the activity balance of GLP-1, GIP, and glucagon (GCG) receptors, has shown remarkable potential in preclinical studies. The drug demonstrated the ability to deliver more than 25% total body weight loss—comparable to bariatric surgery—while minimizing lean mass loss.
Preclinical data presented at ADA 2024 showed that HM15275 delivered superior weight loss efficacy compared to semaglutide (Wegovy) and tirzepatide (Zepbound), with relatively less reductions in lean mass. At ADA 2025, Hanmi will present Phase 1 results for HM15275 for the first time, marking a key milestone in validating both the safety and translational potential of the company's next-generation triple agonist in humans.
The drug is designed to deliver targeted obesity treatment while also addressing comorbid metabolic conditions such as diabetes, cardiovascular, and renal disease. Based on the Phase 1 results, Hanmi plans to initiate Phase 2 clinical trials in the second half of 2025, evaluating the long-term effects of HM15275 in reducing body weight and preserving lean mass in patients with severe obesity.
HM17321 Offers Novel Muscle-Building Approach
HM17321 represents a fundamentally different approach to obesity treatment as the world's first UCN2 (urocortin 2) analog that selectively targets the corticotropin-releasing factor 2 (CRF2) receptor. Unlike incretin-based therapies, HM17321 is uniquely designed to reduce fat mass while simultaneously increasing muscle mass—a combination long considered physiologically incompatible.
Leveraging Hanmi's proprietary AI-driven structural modeling platform, HM17321 delivers significantly enhanced target selectivity and precision. Preclinical data presented at Obesity Week 2024 demonstrated that HM17321 achieved weight loss efficacy comparable to semaglutide (Wegovy), while uniquely increasing both lean mass and muscle mass.
At ADA 2025, Hanmi will present new findings exploring whether the muscle hypertrophic effects also translate into broader metabolic improvements, such as enhanced glycemic control and increased basal metabolic rate. Beyond its monotherapy potential, HM17321 has demonstrated additive efficacy when used in combination with incretin-based agents, further expanding its versatility as a next-generation obesity solution.
Comprehensive Research Program and Global Positioning
The ADA 2025 presentations will cover Phase 1 trial results for HM15275, robust anti-obesity effects and mechanistic insights of HM15275 in animal models, mechanistic insights into HM15275's improved quality of weight loss compared to tirzepatide, weight loss and differentiated body composition improvement effects of HM17321, glycemic control improvement observed with HM17321, and synergistic effects on body composition improvement when combining HM15275 and HM17321.
According to recent reports from GlobalData Patent Analytics and IFI CLAIMS Patent Services, Hanmi ranks among the global leaders in both the volume and quality of obesity drug patent filings, alongside multinational pharmaceutical companies such as Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk.
"Innovation in metabolic and endocrine diseases has been a core focus for Hanmi over many years, and the ADA 2025 presentations represent a critical opportunity to showcase our global competitiveness," said Dr. In Young Choi, Head of Hanmi R&D Center. "Through differentiated development strategies and novel mechanisms that address unmet needs in obesity treatment, Hanmi is committed to becoming a global leader in obesity innovation."
Hanmi expects to initiate Phase 1 clinical trials for HM17321 in the second half of 2025. If successful, both HM15275 and HM17321 are positioned to emerge as either best-in-class or first-in-class treatments that could redefine the standard of care for patients with limited options under existing GLP-1-based therapies.
