HK inno.N will partner with KINE SCIENCES, a new drug developer, to develop a treatment for sarcopenia. The company plans to use this as a starting point to expand its lineup of treatments for geriatric and metabolic diseases.
HK inno.N said on the 18th that it recently signed a joint research and development agreement with KINE SCIENCES for a sarcopenia treatment using "KINE-101," a peptide (small protein fragment) that modulates inflammation, as a new drug candidate.
Under the agreement, HK inno.N will lead a phase 2 clinical trial in Korea for KINE-101, and KINE SCIENCES will handle manufacturing of the investigational drug and technical support. The two companies plan to work closely together with the goal of entering phase 2 next year and commercializing the drug in Korea.
KINE-101 is a new drug candidate that works by maintaining immune balance and alleviating inflammation. It is a peptide derived from ERDR1, a protein central to controlling inflammatory responses, and previously completed a phase 1 trial in the United States as a treatment for rheumatoid arthritis and in Korea as a treatment for chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP). Recently, it completed preclinical studies for a sarcopenia indication.
Demand for treatments for sarcopenia, the disease the two companies will target together, has risen sharply in recent years as global aging accelerates. It occurs due to various causes, including aging, obesity, and metabolic abnormalities.
HK inno.N also expects synergy with its own obesity drug. The company is conducting a phase 3 clinical trial in Korea for the obesity treatment "IN-B00009." Most obesity treatments that are on the market or in development have the side effect of loss of muscle mass along with weight loss. The assessment is that co-administration with KINE-101 would improve this side effect.
Gwak Dal-won, CEO of HK inno.N, said, "We are continuously strengthening our portfolio of treatments for chronic diseases in preparation for an aging era," adding, "We will focus on developing a sarcopenia treatment in collaboration with KINE SCIENCES to not only secure a lead in the domestic market but also proactively pursue global technology transfer."