Celltrion unveils promising results for four-target obesity drug

Celltrion has unveiled promising preclinical results for its next-generation obesity drug candidate, CT-G32/SCO-940, which outperformed a leading experimental weight-loss treatment in animal testing and showed potential to better preserve lean body mass.

The South Korean biopharmaceutical company presented the findings alongside Japanese partner SCOHIA PHARMA at TIDES Europe, a conference on next-generation therapeutics held in Amsterdam from Tuesday to Thursday.

CT-G32/SCO-940 is a quadruple agonist designed to simultaneously target four hormonal pathways — GLP-1, GIP, glucagon and amylin — involved in appetite regulation, metabolism and blood sugar control. Based on publicly available development information, it is the first obesity drug candidate to combine all four targets in a single treatment.

In tests involving diet-induced obese rats, the candidate achieved greater weight loss than retatrutide, a leading experimental triple agonist, at the same dosage. It also showed a smaller reduction in lean body mass relative to total weight loss, suggesting potential benefits for preserving muscle and other lean tissue during treatment.

Researchers also observed lower elevated insulin levels in the obese rats, pointing to possible improvements in metabolic health.

Separate pharmacokinetic testing in nonhuman primates showed that the compound remained in the body for an extended period, supporting its potential for once-weekly dosing.

The findings remain at the preclinical stage, and the drug's safety and effectiveness in humans have yet to be established.

Celltrion plans to submit an investigational new drug application to the US Food and Drug Administration by February 2027, aiming to begin dosing patients in a global clinical trial in the second quarter.

The company hopes to differentiate CT-G32/SCO-940 from existing dual- and triple-agonist obesity treatments by targeting not only weight loss but also body composition and metabolic health.

The candidate forms part of Celltrion's expanding innovative drug pipeline, which also includes antibody-drug conjugates, multispecific cancer therapies and treatments for autoimmune diseases, with several candidates already in Phase 1 trials.

"CT-G32/SCO-940 is a quadruple agonist targeting four hormonal pathways, and preclinical findings have demonstrated its potential to differentiate itself from existing dual and triple agonists," a Celltrion official said. "We will advance clinical development to bring forward a next-generation treatment addressing weight loss, body composition and metabolic health."