Uni-GLP

Uni-GLP, a GLP-1 agonist, is a non-insulin treatment candidate that stimulates the incretin pathway and is effective in the treatment of Type 2 diabetes.

GLP-1 agonist is also one of the only classes of diabetic drugs shown to also cause weight loss. As obesity is a common comorbidity of T2DM, this class is effective in T2DM patients who are overweight, accounting for at least 30% of all diabetes patients in the PRC according to IMS primary research. Moreover, this class of drugs also has other beneficial effects that are expected to drive physician prescription, such as lowering the risk of hypoglycemia and promoting β-cell regeneration, an important clinical advantage in managing Type 2 diabetes complications in the long term.

Clinical studies have shown that Uni-GLP effectively regulates blood glucose levels through multiple mechanisms including stimulating insulin secretion, inhibiting glucagon release, decreasing appetite and decreasing gastric emptying. It is positioned as a major second-line treatment option. The results from the Uni-GLP phase III trial demonstrate that, when compared to insulin glargine, Uni-GLP can effectively decrease the body weight of diabetes patients through suppressing the appetite and prolonging gastrointestinal emptying time.

It has to be mentioned that Uni-GLP is biologically expressed, with much closer physical structure to naturally produced GLP-1, giving it a stronger affinity to GLP-1 receptor and better stability profile; in clinical studies, Uni-GLP is shown to have better bioactivity and potential hypoglycemic effect with much lower immunogenicity. In addition, biological-expressed GLP-1 has a greener and lower production cost than the chemical synthetic one. Uni-GLP as short acting GLP-1 has more advantages against long-acting one, it has a much stronger efficacy on decreasing postprandial glucose, which accounts for >47% of newly diagnosed diabetes patient. Short-acting GLP-1 has a flexible administration regimen, which is also advantageous to newly diagnosed patient where time is needed to find a suitable dosage.

To offer a more patient-friendly product, Uni-GLP utilizes Un-Bio Science’s R&D platform to develop next generation innovative formulations. Uni-GLP’s 1nd generation product is a next-generation liquid pre-filled injection pen, expected to be launched in 2022. The Group is also in the process of developing innovative formulations and drug delivery devices for Uni-GLP to expand the value of the product offering by increasing compliance and convenience to users in both the short and long-term.

Our clinical development team is also reviewing the potential to develop Uni-GLP in new indications and explore the other reported treatment targets, such as obesity and Alzheimer's disease, where there are also significant unmet medical needs.

Uni-GLP's potential as a new treatment has been recognised through the selection of Uni-GLP as a "New Key Drug Formulation" of the“State’s Major Science and Technology Project under the 'Eleventh Five-Year Plan”. Uni-GLP was also awarded the "Specialty Contract of the State's Major Science and Technology Project" by the Ministry of Science and Technology of the People's Republic of China.