韩国多家药企布局下一代靶向减脂药物，GC Biopharma Wellbeing的RZL-012中国III期达主要终点

Korean pharmaceutical and biotech companies are developing next-generation treatments that directly target fat tissue, following the rapid spread of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) obesity drugs. Analysts say obesity treatment strategies are becoming more segmented, moving beyond simple weight loss toward selectively reducing fat in specific body areas or fat tissue itself.
GC Biopharma Wellbeing (234690.KQ) said on the 3rd that RZL-012, a next-generation fat-dissolving drug for which it acquired domestic commercialization rights from Israel's Raziel Therapeutics, met its primary endpoints in a Phase 3 trial in China involving adults with submental fat, or a double chin. The drug induces localized fat reduction with only one or two injections, fewer than existing fat-dissolving shots require. In the trial, a single treatment showed efficacy at day 84 after administration. Unlike existing fat-dissolving injections used mainly for facial contouring procedures such as reducing submental fat, RZL-012 targets localized fat reduction in multiple body areas including the abdomen, thighs, flanks and upper arms.
GC Biopharma Wellbeing plans to accelerate domestic development of RZL-012 as a result. Separate development and approval procedures are required for domestic authorization, but the successful Phase 3 trial in China has strengthened the candidate's development prospects, according to the company. A GC Biopharma Wellbeing official said the company will move quickly on domestic development in line with the U.S. trial schedule. Raziel confirmed efficacy and safety in reducing submental and flank fat in a Phase 2 trial in the United States and will begin a Phase 3 trial in earnest this year. GC Biopharma Wellbeing signed the domestic licensing agreement for RZL-012 in June.
Daewoong Pharmaceutical (069620.KS) is also expanding the range of applications for its fat-dissolving injection Vyolet. Working with 365mc, a medical institution specializing in liposuction, the company is conducting an investigator-initiated trial to confirm Vyolet's effect on reducing anterior axillary fat. The aim is to secure evidence for use across various body areas beyond the double chin indication. Approved in Korea in 2021, Vyolet was the first domestically developed deoxycholic acid-based fat-dissolving injection and works by destroying fat cells themselves to reduce their number.
Korea Bio-Chemical (256840.KQ) signed an exclusive development, manufacturing and sales agreement in January covering nine countries including Korea, Taiwan and Vietnam for 10XB-101, a fat-dissolving injection candidate under development by U.S.-based Raiyos. The injection is being developed to reduce submental fat and abdominal subcutaneous fat in adults and is about to enter a Phase 3 trial. Raiyos last month also signed a licensing agreement with Chinese drugmaker China Medical System Holdings for 10XB-101 in China. The global market for fat-dissolving injections is projected to more than double from $3.8 billion (about 5 trillion won) in 2024 to $8 billion (about 11 trillion won) in 2032, according to market research firm Verified Market Research.
Development is also underway on obesity drugs that target fat tissue itself, going beyond fat-dissolving agents injected directly into specific areas. Olix is developing OLX501A, a small interfering RNA (siRNA)-based obesity treatment that selectively reduces body fat including visceral fat. In preclinical testing, visceral fat in obese monkeys given OLX501A fell 29.2% after 49 days, a larger effect than the 10% reduction in the group given a competing compound. Olix plans to push development with the goal of filing an investigational new drug application in the first half of next year.
Seo Mi-hwa, an analyst at Mirae Asset Securities, said special treatment is needed for patients with visceral fat accumulation accompanied by complications such as diabetes. "Obesity drugs currently under development in the global market are focused on the quality of weight loss rather than the quantity," the analyst said.