Celltrion develops quadruple-action obesity drug
May 29 (UPI) -- South Korea's biopharmaceutical company Celltrion said Friday that it has begun primate toxicology studies for CT-G32, its next-generation obesity drug candidate, as the final preclinical stage before human trials.
The company noted that it plans to submit an Investigational New Drug application in the first half of next year, a crucial regulatory step required before testing the treatment in humans.
CT-G32 is an obesity therapy geared toward targeting four metabolic pathways at the same time, including GLP-1, a natural hormone that plays a central role in appetite regulation.
Celltrion noted that the candidate is intended to address some of the key limitations of current GLP-1-based therapies, including muscle loss associated with weight reduction, while improving overall efficacy.
The company said that it aimed to position CT-G32 not merely as a weight-loss treatment but as a broader platform capable of regulating fat, muscle, and overall energy metabolism.
The World Health Organization has warned that more than 2 billion people could be obese by 2030 if effective action is not taken. Against this backdrop, the global obesity therapeutics market is projected to reach $130 billion in 2034, according to research firm IQVIA.
"CT-G32 is being developed as a next-generation candidate intended to address the limitations of current GLP-1-based therapies while extending Celltrion's reach beyond obesity into broader metabolic disease areas," Celltrion said in a statement.
"Leveraging the global development and manufacturing capabilities established through our biosimilar business, Celltrion will continue to expand its innovative pipeline in areas including obesity and antibody-drug conjugates in support of sustainable mid- to long-term growth," it added.
The share price of Celltrion rose 1.37% on the Seoul bourse on Friday. The benchmark KOSPI advanced 3.55%.
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This story was originally published May 29, 2026 at 7:30 AM.