At a Glance
- Company: Roche’s Genentech and Hanmi Pharmaceutical
- Location: South Korea and Switzerland
- Deal value: $190 million upfront and up to $2.3 billion in total payments
- Focus area: Obesity, weight management and metabolic disease
- Next steps: Hanmi will complete Phase 1, after which Genentech will lead Phase 2 and later development
What happened?
Roche, through its Genentech subsidiary, has agreed to license rights to Hanmi Pharmaceutical’s investigational obesity candidate HM17321. The agreement could generate up to $2.3 billion for Hanmi, including a $190 million upfront payment, development, regulatory and commercial milestones, as well as tiered royalties.
Genentech will receive exclusive rights worldwide except in South Korea.
Why does it matter?
HM17321 uses a non-GLP-1 mechanism designed to reduce fat mass while preserving or improving lean mass and muscle function. That positioning addresses a major challenge in obesity treatment, where weight loss can include unwanted loss of muscle.
The agreement also gives Roche another potential entry into a rapidly expanding obesity market while diversifying beyond incretin-based therapies.
Who’s behind it?
Hanmi Pharmaceutical is developing HM17321, a long-acting urocortin-2 analogue that acts through the CRF2 receptor. Roche’s Genentech will take responsibility for global development, manufacturing and commercialisation outside South Korea.
How was it achieved?
HM17321 is currently being assessed in a Phase 1 trial in healthy volunteers. Hanmi will complete the study, after which Genentech is expected to assume development from Phase 2 onwards.
The candidate is being investigated for obesity and associated metabolic conditions, including type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
What’s next?
Hanmi will finish the ongoing Phase 1 study and retain Korean rights. Genentech will then lead mid- and late-stage development, with future milestones dependent on clinical, regulatory and commercial progress.