GI Biome said that the company signed a memorandum of understanding with ProGen to cooperate in the research and development of a next-generation obesity treatment drug. The two companies will jointly research GI Biome's microbiome for the treatment of anti-obesity and metabolic disease, and ProGen's obesity treatment candidate. The next-generation obesity treatment drug will specialize in the maximized reduction of weight, especially in abdominal obesity and visceral fat.
In recent studies, GLP-1 analogs that gained attention as diabetes treatment were also found to have weight loss capabilities, creating a wake in the global obesity treatment drug market. However, GLP-1 analogs induce weight loss effects by suppressing patients' appetite and this could lead to a decrease in the patient's muscle and bone mass. When the application of GLP-1 analogs is discontinued, lost weight may return or even increase than before.
The GLP-1/GLP-2 dual-action obesity treatment drug that is under joint development by ProGen and SL Metagen, a South Korean drug maker, focuses on minimizing the side effects of former diabetes drugs while maximizing the obesity treatment effects.
GI Biome has secured strains for the treatment of anti-obesity and metabolic diseases based on metabolic profiling analysis results through the company's microbiome screening platform. The company is currently developing obesity treatment drugs based on the strains.
"Through joint research on the combination of effective protein-based new drugs for abdominal obesity treatment and microbiome specialized for anti-obesity and metabolic diseases, we expect to propose a groundbreaking treatment method that is safe and has long-term effects," the two companies said in a joint statement on July 25.
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