Daewoong Pharmaceutical has announced a strategic partnership with Tion Lab Therapeutics to develop and commercialize a once-monthly long-acting injectable semaglutide for obesity treatment, the company said on May 8.
The injectable combines Daewoong's proprietary 'Cure' platform with Tion Lab's 'Qject Sphere' platform. According to Daewoong, the combination controls rapid drug release and extends efficacy, ensuring stable pharmaceutical quality characteristics.
The once-monthly formulation requires only 12 injections per year, compared to 52 for current once-weekly regimens, significantly improving patient convenience.
The two companies completed a domestic clinical trial application (IND) last month and aim to administer the first dose to patients within this year, while pursuing both domestic and global development.
The global obesity treatment market is growing at an average annual rate of over 30%, with the bio-pharmaceutical industry projecting the market could reach up to $200 billion (KRW 292 trillion) by 2030.
A Daewoong Pharmaceutical official stated, "A once-monthly long-acting formulation is currently absent from the market, so we expect to secure a competitive advantage by being first to market."
Source: Read the original report | Published: May 08, 2026