Huons Group highlights R&D progress

Huons Global’s new headquarters in Pangyo, Gyeonggi [HUONS GROUP]

Huons Group has unveiled significant strides in its research and development (R&D) endeavors as it gears up for future expansion.

Across all subsidiaries within the Huons Group, initiatives are underway to secure financial resources aimed at propelling future growth engines.

Huons has made significant progress in the treatment of ocular conditions.

In January, the HUC1-394, an eye drop for treating dry eye syndrome, was granted an IND (Investigational New Drug) for a phase 1 clinical trial.

The company is now working on a phase 3 domestic clinical trial for the compound eye drop HU007, an IMD (Incrementally Modified Drug) targeting dry eye syndrome.

The IND application for the phase 3 domestic clinical trial received approval from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety and subject recruitment has been completed.

HU007 is a combination drug that offers a comprehensive healing treatment for dry eye syndrome.

It contains cyclosporine, which has anti-inflammatory effects, and trehalose, which protects the tear film.

The density of cyclosporine was reduced to half or less than that in existing medications, minimizing possible irritations on the ocular surface, such as burning sensations.

The trehalose prevents the corneal and conjunctival epithelial cells from being destroyed due to dryness.

Research on the HU007 is set to evaluate the efficacy and safety of the eye drop and incorporates patients with dry eye syndrome as subjects.

It is anticipated that this research will prove HU007’s superiority over another Huons eye drop called Moisview, and demonstrate HU007’s equivalent efficacy when compared with Restasis, an eye drop produced by Allergan.

The research involves 328 subjects and was registered in November last year.

Huonslab is concentrating on the development of a technology equipped with a dispersant that alters intravenous injections into hypodermic injections.

It also strives for advancements in new biopharmaceuticals and biosimilars for treating obesity, diabetes, Alzheimer’s and other conditions.

HLB3-002 is an enzyme derived from the cultivation of animal cells that exhibit high productivity and purification levels.

The enzyme is an integral substance that will actualize the technology which can change the formulation of the conventional intravenous injection into that of a hypodermic injection.

Over two instances of non-clinical testing, the enzyme demonstrated efficacy equal to that of the original.

The sample production of the enzyme for clinical tests was recently completed and is on the verge of applying for the phase 1 clinical trial for drug approval.

HLB1-015, a candidate substance for the treatment of obesity and diabetes, is an agonist that aids the effects of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP).

The substance is in development to function as a long-acting injectable and oral medication.

The patent application for the candidate substance was submitted in the first half of 2023 and its effects were confirmed through animal models.

R&D is being conducted on treatments for obesity and diabetes by utilizing a new mode of action, a GIP antagonist.

The new antibody therapy, HLB1-014, is a treatment for Alzheimer’s.

It is being developed as a candidate substance that can effectively eliminate amyloid beta aggregates, a substance that causes Alzheimer’s while reducing major side effects such as infection which is prone to occur when using antibody treatment.

Huonslab is collaborating with the Seoul National University College of Medicine and other research teams to develop this candidate substance and introduce it to the global market.

Recently, a promising substance has been identified and a patent application is being prepared.

To enhance its success potential, Huons Group collaborates with external expert groups as a key component of its open innovation strategy.

The group is also aggressively pursuing talent acquisition and infrastructure expansion to enhance its capabilities in developing proprietary synthetic pharmaceuticals.

With Huons and Humedix working in unison to create the Huons Group’s core business, the group is also exploring emerging business sectors with significant growth prospects.

The group has been establishing a business structure interconnected as follows: health functional food, medical devices and health care consumables.

Humedix expands its scope leveraging its core technology, which revolves around the application of biocompatible hyaluronic acid.

In addition to the existing high molecular weight and low molecular weight technology, the company has secured a lineup of ultra-low molecular weight HA raw materials that require a higher level of technological sophistication.

Through open innovation, the company is expanding its scope to address the development of treatments for obesity, Alzheimer’s and hair loss.

The company is collaborating with corporations specializing in R&D — such as HLB, G2GBIO, WONBIOGEN and Epibiotech — to pursue new pipeline deals or engage in collaborative R&D initiatives.

BY JEONG SEONWU [jeong.seonwu@joongang.co.kr]

What is “Promoted Content”?

“Promoted Content” articles are written by our staff reporters. They are promoted to some extent by an external company.

Promoted Content is not the same as “Guest Reports,” which are paid advertorials.
Our reporters and editors retain complete editorial independence in the conception and production of Promoted Content.