Hanmi Pharm said on Monday it had entered into an exclusive licensing agreement with Genentech, a unit of Roche, for the development, manufacturing and worldwide commercialization of HM17321, a proprietary UCN2 analog being developed for chronic weight management and associated conditions such as obesity, type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
The deal excludes South Korea and transfers global rights to Genentech after Hanmi completes an ongoing Phase 1 clinical trial. HM17321 is designed to promote weight loss while preserving lean body mass, unlike incretin-based therapies that reduce both fat and muscle mass.
Preclinical studies showed HM17321 delivered quantitative and qualitative improvements in weight reduction both as a monotherapy and in combination with GLP-1-based treatments. As a peptide-based therapy, it may also support future fixed-dose combinations or combination regimens with incretin drugs.
Under the agreement, Hanmi will receive an upfront payment of $190 million. Total deal value could reach up to $2.3 billion, including development, regulatory and commercial milestones, plus tiered royalties on future net sales. Hanmi will retain responsibility for the Phase 1 trial, after which Genentech will assume development starting with Phase 2 trials.
Hanmi’s Senior Executive Vice President of R&D, In-Young Choi, said the licensing deal reflects recognition of HM17321’s differentiated mechanism and potential to address evolving obesity treatment paradigms beyond simple weight reduction.
Boris L. Zaïtra, head of Roche Corporate Business Development, said the licensing pact advances Roche’s cardiometabolic pipeline with a next-generation therapy aimed at selectively reducing fat mass while improving muscle mass and function.
