HK inno.N

HK inno.N Announces Phase 1b Results for In-Licensed GLP-1 Drug in Adolescent Obesity

- SCIWIND presents Phase 1b adolescent findings with Ecnoglutide at EASD 2026

- Ecnoglutide cuts BMI by up to 12.6% and body weight by up to 12.1% at Week 20

- Waist Circumference and Metabolic Markers Improved; Favorable Safety and Tolerability Confirmed, Phase 3 Trial Ongoing in Adolescents

 

HK inno.N announced on Tuesday (6th of October) that its Chinese partner SCIWIND BIOSCIENCES CO., LTD. (“SCIWIND”) reported Phase 1b results for “Ecnoglutide”, a GLP-1 obesity therapy, in adolescents with obesity. The results were presented at the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) Annual Meeting in Milan, Italy, on September 30 (local time).

Ecnoglutide is the world’s first cAMP (cyclic adenosine monophosphate)-biased GLP-1 receptor agonist, designed to enhance signaling selectivity to improve efficacy and safety. HK inno.N in-licensed Ecnoglutide from SCIWIND in 2024 and is currently conducting a Phase 3 clinical trial in Korea for the treatment of obesity and diabetes.

The Phase 1b trial was conducted to evaluate the safety, pharmacokinetic (PK) profile, and effects of Ecnoglutide on reducing body weight, body mass index (BMI), and key metabolic markers in adolescents with obesity. A total of 48 Chinese adolescents aged 12–17 years were enrolled and randomly assigned to receive Ecnoglutide 1.2 mg, 1.8 mg, 2.4 mg, or placebo for 20 weeks.

The study demonstrated that weight reduction in the Ecnoglutide treatment groups was sustained from Week 4 through Week 20. At Week 20, mean BMI decreased by 11.2% to 12.6% from baseline in the Ecnoglutide groups, whereas no significant change was observed in the placebo group. Body weight decreased by 10.4% to 12.1% with Ecnoglutide, compared with a 1.2% increase with placebo (P<0.0001).

Waist and neck circumference also decreased in the Ecnoglutide groups, and key cardiometabolic parameters—including glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), triglycerides, and blood pressure—showed a trend toward improvement compared with placebo. Overall, Ecnoglutide demonstrated a favorable safety and tolerability profile, with pharmacokinetic characteristics consistent with those observed in adult studies.

Professor Fu Junfen of the Children’s Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, said: “In treating adolescent obesity, it is important to evaluate not only weight reduction, but also safety and potential effects on growth and development. Through the ongoing Phase 3 trial, we plan to further assess the efficacy and safety of Ecnoglutide.”

Hai Pan, CEO of SCIWIND BIOSCIENCES, said: “This study demonstrated the potential of Ecnoglutide to reduce body weight and BMI and improve metabolic parameters in adolescents with obesity. We will continue to advance its clinical development for the treatment of adolescent obesity.”

Dal-won Kwak, CEO of HK inno.N, said: “These results represent a meaningful milestone in demonstrating the potential of Ecnoglutide as a treatment for adolescent obesity. We are also exploring various development strategies to provide patients in Korea with a broader range of treatment options. (END)

Reference Information

▶ Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (“GLP-1 receptor agonists”):

GLP-1 is a gut hormone your body naturally releases shortly after eating food; it triggers insulin release and helps regulate blood glucose. GLP-1 receptor agonists are drugs developed to act in much the same way as GLP-1 while remaining active in the body far longer. They have long been used to treat diabetes, and now they are also used for obesity treatment, following confirmation of their weight-loss effect

▶ cAMP (cyclic AMP, cyclic adenosine monophosphate):

cAMP is a signaling molecule generated when the GLP-1 receptor is activated, and it plays a key role in insulin secretion and glucose regulation. Ecnoglutide is a GLP-1 receptor agonist designed to selectively activate cAMP signaling pathways, with the aim of enhancing insulin secretion and metabolic improvement.