Hengrui Medicine, Head-to-Head Challenge with Semaglutide

Recently, Hengrui Medicine initiated a head-to-head clinical trial of its GLP-1R/GIPR dual agonist HRS9531 against semaglutide. The relevant indication is for type 2 diabetes.

HRS9531 is a GLP-1/GIP dual receptor agonist independently developed by Hengrui Medicine.

At the 60th Annual Meeting of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD 2024), held from September 9 to 13 in Madrid, Hengrui Medicine presented the Phase II clinical trial data on the efficacy and safety of HRS9531 in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2DM) in the form of a Late Breaking Abstract.

2024 EASD site photo: HRS9531 Phase II clinical trial results report. Image source: Hengrui officials webstie

The results showed that HRS9531 significantly reduced glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels by 2.7% in T2DM patients, improved glycemic control, reduced body weight, and demonstrated good tolerability. These results lay a solid foundation for its further development in the T2DM population.

Additionally, research on HRS9531 for overweight indications has already been fully launched.

In June 2024, at the American Diabetes Association (ADA) Annual Meeting, the Phase II clinical study of HRS9531 in adult obese patients was presented in the form of a Late Breaking Abstract (LBA).

The study showed that HRS9531 effectively reduced weight, blood pressure, blood sugar, and triglyceride levels in adult obese patients while maintaining good safety.

In May this year, Hengrui Medicine licensed several GLP-1 drugs, including HRS9531, to the American company Hercules. The cumulative upfront and milestone payments could reach up to $6 billion.