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SEOUL, February 24 (AJP) - Celltrion announced it is pursuing a two-pronged approach to the fast-growing obesity treatment market, developing both a first-in-class quadruple-action injectable and a multi-target oral drug designed to challenge dominant players in the space.

The injectable candidate reported Tuesday, CT-G32, targets four biological pathways simultaneously, moving beyond the dual- and triple-action GLP-1-based therapies that currently dominate the market.

Celltrion said the drug aims to minimize side effects such as muscle loss and efficacy variation among patients while enhancing appetite suppression and weight reduction. The company plans to file an investigational new drug application in the first half of 2027.

The oral candidate, meanwhile, acts on multiple targets including GLP-1 receptors, distinguishing it from rival oral treatments that rely on a single mechanism. Celltrion said the pill is expected to broaden patient access by offering easier storage and administration compared to injectables, with an IND filing targeted for the second half of 2028.

The push for obesity drug follows a worldwide demand for the market, soon to grow to $173.5 billion by 2031, according to GlobalData, as the worldwide adult overweight rate has surged past 40 percent from about 25 percent in the 1990s.

The South Korean drugmaker said the two treatments are designed to complement each other across different stages of obesity care — the injectable for patients requiring aggressive early weight loss, and the oral drug for those seeking long-term maintenance or alternatives to injections.

"We plan to enter the obesity drug market with differentiated competitiveness, building on our established dominance in autoimmune diseases and oncology," a Celltrion spokesperson said.

"We will do our utmost to maximize corporate value and evolve into a global pharma giant."
Kim Dong-young Business Reporter davekim0807@ajupress.com

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