Hansoh Pharma Launches Oligopeptide (HS-20094), a Novel Dual-Biased GLP-1/GIP Receptor Agonist, to Tackle Gastrointestinal Side Effects in Obesity Treatment

Balance patient tolerance with long-term medication adherence.

The advent of GLP-1 medications has provided a weight management option for patients with obesity; however, gastrointestinal adverse effects such as nausea and vomiting associated with these drugs can lead to forced discontinuation of treatment.

Amid intensifying competition in the GLP-1 weight-loss drug sector, pharmaceutical companies are launching a battle to “reduce side effects.”

Recently, at the 108th Annual Meeting of the Endocrine Society, Hansoh Pharma (03692.HK) presented a poster on the in vitro pharmacological study of HS-20094 (olexapotide), a novel dual-biased glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1)/glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) receptor agonist.

The report indicates that oleforglutide, as a dual-biased GLP-1R/GIPR agonist, exhibits a favorable GIPR/GLP-1R activity ratio and reduces β-arrestin2 recruitment and receptor internalization at both the GLP-1R and GIPR targets. This profile is specifically designed to minimize gastrointestinal adverse effects while maintaining potent therapeutic efficacy. These in vitro characteristics provide mechanistic predictions for the drug’s clinical performance.

Orforglipron’s marketing application in China was accepted by the National Medical Products Administration on June 3, for long-term weight management in adults with obesity or overweight.

Prior to this, the first Phase III clinical trial of olepatide in adult subjects with overweight or obesity in China also achieved its primary endpoint in March this year. The study demonstrated excellent gastrointestinal tolerability in the olepatide treatment group, with an average incidence of nausea of <10% and vomiting of <5%. Compared with previously published Phase III trial data for GLP-1-based dual agonists, olepatide showed lower rates of gastrointestinal adverse events and treatment discontinuation.

To date, six GLP-1 drugs have been approved in China for weight loss treatment in adult patients with primary obesity, including two dual-target GLP-1 agents and four single-target GLP-1 agents.

Currently, in addition to Hansoh Pharma’s olepatide, other dual-target GLP-1 drugs are also seeking marketing approval. It can be said that competition across the entire market has intensified. How to ensure potent weight loss while simultaneously addressing patient tolerability and long-term medication adherence represents a pressing clinical challenge in the development of weight-loss and metabolic drugs such as GLP-1 agents, and has become one of the key areas of competition among pharmaceutical companies.

Recently, Zhu Mansheng, an attending physician in the Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery at Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, stated in an interview with a Yicai reporter that GLP-1 weight-loss medications can help regulate eating behaviors but cannot replace healthy lifestyle habits. For primary obesity, intervention should not rely solely on medication or bariatric surgery, as both are merely adjunctive therapies. To achieve optimal outcomes, the key lies in patients proactively adjusting to and maintaining a healthy lifestyle.