Boehringer Ingelheim and Yuhan Corp. have entered a collaboration and license agreement to develop a first-in-class dual agonist for the treatment of NASH and related liver diseases that combines GLP-1 and FGF21 activity in one molecule. Yuhan will provide its expertise in FGF21 biology, obesity and NASH.

NASH often starts with the accumulation of fat in the liver, giving rise to inflammation and finally leading in many patients to liver fibrosis and cirrhosis. It has an especially high prevalence among obese and diabetic patients and is an area of high-unmet medical need with no treatments currently available.

Preclinical evidence suggests high efficacy, when combining the gut-derived hormone GLP-1 with FGF21. The dual agonist (GLP1R/FGF21R agonist) is expected to reduce liver cell injury and hepatic inflammation by resolution of steatohepatitis as well as having direct antifibrotic effects and complements Boehringer’s R&D portfolio in NASH. 

“We are excited about this new opportunity which adds to our longstanding and successful partnership with Yuhan Corporation,” says Dr. Michel Pairet, member of  Boehringer Ingelheim’s Board of Managing Directors with responsibility for the Innovation Unit. “This partnership brings us closer to next generation treatments for patients with NASH.”  

”We look forward to working jointly with Boehringer Ingelheim, with its strong track record of bringing new treatments to patients with cardiometabolic disease. Boehringer Ingelheim’s clinical expertise will now be applied to the development of this drug which has the potential to make a real difference for patients with NASH,” said Jung Hee Lee, CEO and President at Yuhan Corp. “This molecule, which is a fusion protein utilizing the long-acting (HyFc) technology of Genexine, has been developed in-house by Yuhan. Not only is our collaboration with Boehringer Ingelheim on this molecule Yuhan’s first external partnership with biologics, it is also the very first out-licensing of biologics targeting NASH from Korea.”