![Exterior view of Hanmi Pharmaceutical headquarters. [Photo=Hanmi Pharmaceutical]](https://image.ajunews.com/content/image/2026/08/24/20260824120401541599.jpg)
SEOUL, August 24 (AJP) - Hanmi Pharm said Monday it has signed an exclusive licensing agreement with U.S. biotechnology company Genentech, a subsidiary of Swiss healthcare company Roche, to develop and commercialize its obesity drug candidate HM17321 worldwide.
Under the agreement, worth up to US$2.3 billion, Genentech will obtain exclusive rights to develop, manufacture and commercialize HM17321 worldwide, except in South Korea. Hanmi will receive an upfront payment of US$190 million. Hanmi will also be eligible for royalties on future sales.
HM17321 is an experimental, non-incretin, long-acting urocortin-2 (UCN2) analog being developed as a potential first-in-class treatment for obesity and related metabolic conditions including type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases.
Existing GLP-1-based obesity treatments have shown significant weight loss, but reductions in lean body mass remain a potential limitation. Unlike GLP-1-based incretin therapies, HM17321 works through a non-incretin mechanism and is designed to promote weight loss while preserving lean body mass.
Hanmi said preclinical studies showed that HM17321 improved both the amount and quality of weight loss when used alone or in combination with GLP-1-based therapies.
Hanmi has been conducting a Phase 1 clinical trial of HM17321 since obtaining approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in November 2025. Once the trial is completed, Genentech will take over development beginning with Phase 2 trials.
Hanmi said the licensing deal is part of its broader effort to expand its obesity drug pipeline, alongside plans to commercialize its GLP-1-based obesity drug candidate Epe, which it aims to launch later this year.
AJP Takeaways
• Hanmi Pharm signed an exclusive licensing agreement with Genentech to develop, manufacture and commercialize its obesity drug candidate HM17321 worldwide, excluding South Korea, in a deal worth up to US$2.3 billion.
• Hanmi will receive US$190 million upfront and is also eligible for development, regulatory and commercial milestone payments, as well as royalties on future sales of HM17321.
• HM17321 is an experimental, non-incretin, long-acting urocortin-2 analog being developed as a potential first-in-class treatment for obesity and related conditions, including type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases.
• HM17321 is designed to promote weight loss while preserving lean body mass, with preclinical studies showing improvements in the amount and quality of weight loss both alone and in combination with GLP-1-based therapies.
• Hanmi is currently conducting a Phase 1 trial of HM17321 after obtaining U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval in November 2025. Genentech will take over development from Phase 2, while Hanmi also plans to commercialize its GLP-1-based obesity drug candidate Epe later this year.
Under the agreement, worth up to US$2.3 billion, Genentech will obtain exclusive rights to develop, manufacture and commercialize HM17321 worldwide, except in South Korea. Hanmi will receive an upfront payment of US$190 million. Hanmi will also be eligible for royalties on future sales.
HM17321 is an experimental, non-incretin, long-acting urocortin-2 (UCN2) analog being developed as a potential first-in-class treatment for obesity and related metabolic conditions including type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases.
Existing GLP-1-based obesity treatments have shown significant weight loss, but reductions in lean body mass remain a potential limitation. Unlike GLP-1-based incretin therapies, HM17321 works through a non-incretin mechanism and is designed to promote weight loss while preserving lean body mass.
Hanmi said preclinical studies showed that HM17321 improved both the amount and quality of weight loss when used alone or in combination with GLP-1-based therapies.
Hanmi has been conducting a Phase 1 clinical trial of HM17321 since obtaining approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in November 2025. Once the trial is completed, Genentech will take over development beginning with Phase 2 trials.
Hanmi said the licensing deal is part of its broader effort to expand its obesity drug pipeline, alongside plans to commercialize its GLP-1-based obesity drug candidate Epe, which it aims to launch later this year.
AJP Takeaways
• Hanmi Pharm signed an exclusive licensing agreement with Genentech to develop, manufacture and commercialize its obesity drug candidate HM17321 worldwide, excluding South Korea, in a deal worth up to US$2.3 billion.
• Hanmi will receive US$190 million upfront and is also eligible for development, regulatory and commercial milestone payments, as well as royalties on future sales of HM17321.
• HM17321 is an experimental, non-incretin, long-acting urocortin-2 analog being developed as a potential first-in-class treatment for obesity and related conditions, including type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases.
• HM17321 is designed to promote weight loss while preserving lean body mass, with preclinical studies showing improvements in the amount and quality of weight loss both alone and in combination with GLP-1-based therapies.
• Hanmi is currently conducting a Phase 1 trial of HM17321 after obtaining U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval in November 2025. Genentech will take over development from Phase 2, while Hanmi also plans to commercialize its GLP-1-based obesity drug candidate Epe later this year.
Copyright ⓒ Aju Press All rights reserved.
