April 25, 2024

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[THE INVESTOR] Sanofi will initiate a late-stage clinical study of an in-licensed diabetes treatment candidate initially developed by Korea’s Hanmi Pharmaceutical later this year, sources said May 10.

Sanofi said it will embark on phase 3 clinical trials of efpeglenatide, a late-stage long-acting glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists, between September and December 2017, the French drug maker said while announcing its first quarter earnings.

The announcement clears uncertainties surrounding Hanmi’s new drug development including the longer-lasting biologic as the Korean firm faced setbacks last year.

Citing manufacturing issues, Sanofi delayed the large-scale clinical trials of the diabetes treatment which was originally planned to be conducted in 2016.

While Sanofi will initiate the study, Hanmi will partly pay the costs based on the two company’s altered license deal in December last year.

In November 2015, Hanmi licensed out a set of three new long-lasting diabetes treatments, collectively known as the “Quantum Project,” to Sanofi. They include efpeglenatide, a week-lasting insulin and a combination of efpeglenatide and LAPS-insulin115. Of the three licensed drugs, Sanofi returned the rights to the insulin combination drug.

By Park Han-na (hnpark@heraldcorp.com)