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LG Chem's LC542019 receives FDA clinical trial approval

Published: 19 Jan. 2022, 17:51

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An LG Chem diabetes treatment candidate received approval to start Phase 1 clinical trials from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the company said Wednesday.

The clinical trials will be conducted on 98 healthy adults and diabetes patients in the United States to test the drug's safety and tolerability.

The candidate, LC542019, is designed to reduce the insulin resistance in patients with type 2 diabetes. Unlike type 1 diabetes, which is a genetic disorder that often shows up early in life, type 2 is largely diet-related and develops over time. Type 2 diabetes is often milder than type 1, but it can still cause major health complications, especially in blood vessels, kidneys and eyes, and potentially lead to heart disease and stroke.

LG Chem said the preclinical trials produced meaningful results proving its efficacy. It also found that the candidate is effective in promoting weight loss and treating fatty liver.

The global market size of diabetes treatment, which was around $56.5 billion in 2021, is expected to increase to $92 billion in 2029, according to data compiled by market tracker GlobalData.

LG Chem has a total of 10 drugs in development including LC542019 and a gout treatment candidate.

BY SARAH CHEA [[email protected]]