Celltrion Advances Dual-Track Obesity Drug Program; Lunit Starts Direct Sales in Japan

Celltrion: Developing dual-track obesity drugs, including four-target injectable

Celltrion headquarters in Songdo, Incheon. [Photo=Celltrion]

Celltrion said on Feb. 24 it is developing obesity drugs on two tracks: a four-target injectable candidate (CT-G32) and a multi-target oral drug.

The company said CT-G32 is designed to act on four targets at once, going beyond GLP-1-based dual- and triple-acting drugs that currently lead the obesity treatment market. Celltrion said it aims to reduce differences in effectiveness among patients and side effects such as muscle loss, while maximizing appetite suppression and weight loss. It also plans to expand development toward metabolic disease treatment, including promoting fat breakdown and regulating energy metabolism.

Celltrion said it is conducting efficacy tests in disease-model animals for key candidates and plans to submit an investigational new drug application in the first half of next year to begin clinical trials.

The company said it is also developing a multi-target oral obesity drug to improve weight-loss effects while reducing side effects. It plans to submit an IND in the second half of 2028.

Lunit begins direct sales in Japan

Cho Kyung-sik, right, head of Lunit Japan, speaks at the 2026 SaMD Forum on Feb. 16 in Tokyo. [Photo=Lunit]

Lunit said on Feb. 24 it has started direct sales in Japan through its local unit, Lunit Japan, which it established in May last year. The company has sold in Japan through a partnership with Fujifilm, but said the new direct-sales system is intended to improve profitability.

Lunit said the direct-sales approach will complement Fujifilm’s existing channels. It will keep the partnership-led strategy in the hospital market, where Fujifilm is strong, while Lunit will handle sales in health screening and remote reading markets, where demand for artificial intelligence adoption is high.

The company said it also plans to strengthen ties with the Japanese government. Fujifilm has previously launched in Japan the latest version of CXR-AID, chest X-ray reading software based on Lunit’s AI technology.

Bukwang Pharmaceutical launches epilepsy drug Bukwang Brivifil tablets

Packaging image of Bukwang Brivifil tablets 100 mg. [Photo=Bukwang Pharmaceutical]

Bukwang Pharmaceutical said on Feb. 24 it has launched Bukwang Brivifil tablets (brivaracetam) in 10 mg, 25 mg, 50 mg and 100 mg doses.

The company said the product received marketing approval from South Korea’s Ministry of Food and Drug Safety in September last year. It is a third-generation epilepsy treatment used as add-on therapy for patients with partial-onset seizures.

Bukwang said brivaracetam selectively binds to synaptic vesicle protein 2A, or SV2A, regulating neurotransmitter release to suppress seizures. The company said the drug is characterized by rapid absorption and good tolerability compared with existing treatments, and that multiple dose options allow individualized therapy.

Hecto Healthcare revamps Desimone subscription service

Hecto Healthcare’s Desimone probiotics brand. [Photo=Hecto Healthcare]

Hecto Healthcare said on Feb. 24 it will overhaul the subscription service for its Desimone probiotics brand, aiming to reduce the sign-up burden for new customers while extending benefits across the broader brand lineup.

The minimum subscription period will be reduced to six deliveries from 12, the company said.

Hecto Healthcare said it will also expand benefits by introducing “Subscription Plus,” which provides a 50% discount coupon that can be used on a range of products, including Kim Seok-jin LAB’s Kids Multi-Vitamin Toktok and Kids Omega-3 Smart Chew, as well as the functional formula-based O2 Booster. It also introduced a combined-shipping service that allows Subscription Plus purchases to be delivered together with subscription items to reduce shipping costs.

* This article has been translated by AI.

Park boram