South Korea's Celltrion and Japan's SCOHIA PHARMA have shown the first preclinical data for CT-G32, also called SCO-940, an obesity drug candidate that acts on four hormone pathways at once. The results were presented at TIDES Europe, a peptide-focused conference held in Amsterdam from 3 to 5 November, and announced by Celltrion on 4 November.
In rats with diet-induced obesity, the candidate produced more weight loss than Eli Lilly's retatrutide at the same dose, and a smaller proportion of the weight lost was lean mass, the companies report. The candidate has not been given to people.
A single molecule for four targets
CT-G32/SCO-940 is a quadruple agonist: one molecule designed to activate the receptors for GLP-1, GIP, glucagon and amylin, four hormones involved in appetite, blood sugar and energy use. Celltrion says that, based on publicly disclosed development status, it is the first obesity candidate to combine all four in a single molecule.
Celltrion places it in a sequence. In its presentation it described approved drugs such as Wegovy as GLP-1 mono-agonists and Mounjaro as a dual GLP-1 and GIP agonist. Retatrutide, still in late stage trials, adds glucagon as a third target. Amylin would be the fourth.
What the rat tests showed
In diet-induced obese rats, CT-G32/SCO-940 produced greater weight reduction than retatrutide at the same dose. The share of weight lost as lean mass was smaller than with the comparator, which Celltrion presents as a sign of better preservation of body composition. Elevated insulin levels in the obese animals also fell. The team assessed activity at each of the four receptors in cells as well.
The company statements give no percentages, doses or animal numbers. A company spokesperson told Korea Biomedical Review that detailed figures were available at the conference. The same outlet noted that a smaller share of lean mass lost does not necessarily show that the drug prevents muscle loss.
Monkey data point to weekly dosing
In nonhuman primates, the compound stayed in the body for an extended period. Celltrion says this supports the possibility of a once-weekly dose.
Toxicology and the road to people
On 29 May, Celltrion announced it had started primate toxicology studies, describing them as the final preclinical step before clinical development. The programme covers 252 rats and 48 monkeys and is meant to establish the safety profile and the dose range for people.
Celltrion plans to file an investigational new drug application with the US Food and Drug Administration by February 2027. It aims to dose the first patient in a global trial in the second quarter of 2027, subject to regulatory clearance. In parallel it is developing a multi-target oral obesity candidate, with an application planned for the second half of 2028.
Who is behind it
SCOHIA PHARMA, based in Fujisawa, Japan, was set up in 2017 as a carve-out from Takeda, with backing from Takeda, the distributor Medipal Holdings and the Innovation Network Corporation of Japan. Celltrion, based in Incheon, South Korea, is best known for biosimilars and is building a portfolio of new drugs.
Celltrion describes a strategic collaboration with SCOHIA in which it is expected to lead global development and commercialisation. The financial terms have not been published.
What is still unknown
All of the efficacy data so far are from rats, and the comparison with retatrutide is the companies' own. Doses, percentage changes, group sizes and the full toxicology results have not been released, and the findings have not been published in a peer reviewed journal. Whether the effects on weight and lean mass carry over to people is the question the planned trials would answer.
OrientSciences has worked from Celltrion's releases and press reports of the presentation, not from the conference slides. A few outlets reported the animals as mice; Celltrion's own wording and most coverage say rats.