Rani Therapeutics Announces Partnership with ProGen on Development of Oral Obesity Treatment
Rani Therapeutics announced a partnership with ProGen to develop RT-114, an oral obesity treatment using RaniPill® capsules and ProGen's dual agonist, PG-102. The collaboration features a 50/50 cost and revenue share, with Rani leading development in the US, Europe, Canada, and Australia, while ProGen heads efforts elsewhere. The RT-114 program aims to offer a weekly oral dose, potentially improving patient adherence and therapeutic effects. Previous clinical studies of both the RaniPill® platform and PG-102 have shown promising results in bioavailability and safety profiles.
- Rani Therapeutics and ProGen will equally share costs and revenues for RT-114.
- Rani received exclusive rights to develop and commercialize RT-114 in major markets including the US, Europe, Canada, and Australia.
- RaniPill® capsules have shown high bioavailability in previous trials.
- PG-102 demonstrated superior glycemic control and comparable weight loss to existing treatments in preclinical studies.
- No upfront payment or financial exchange between Rani and ProGen, potentially indicating financial constraints.
- Phase 1 clinical program for RT-114 won't start until 2025, delaying potential market entry.
Insights
Rani Therapeutics partnering with ProGen on the development of RT-114 represents a significant strategic move with potential financial implications for both companies. The 50/50 cost and revenue sharing agreement means both parties are equally invested in the project's success and potential financial returns. This type of partnership often suggests confidence from both sides in the future commercial viability of the product. Investors should note that ProGen has already demonstrated promising results in Phase 1 trials with PG-102, indicating a potentially strong candidate for RT-114.
From a financial perspective, the long-term potential looks promising if the drug progresses successfully through clinical trials and gains regulatory approval. The absence of upfront payments suggests a focus on shared risk and reward, aligning the interests of both companies. However, the commitment to a 50/50 cost-sharing model comes with financial risks, especially if development costs escalate or if the drug fails in later-stage trials. Retail investors should consider the potential for increased expenses in the short term but weigh this against the substantial revenue opportunities in the growing obesity treatment market if RT-114 succeeds.
The collaboration between Rani and ProGen to develop an oral obesity treatment is quite intriguing from a medical research perspective. The use of GLP-1/GLP-2 dual agonists, like PG-102, offers a novel approach to treating obesity. GLP-1 agonists are already well-known for their role in weight loss and diabetes management, while GLP-2 can enhance gut function and nutrient absorption. This dual-action mechanism has potential advantages in improving not only weight loss but also overall metabolic health.
Moreover, RaniPill®'s unique delivery system, which aims to match the bioavailability of subcutaneous injections, could be a game-changer in terms of patient adherence and convenience. The ability to replace injections with a pill would be highly attractive to patients, likely leading to better adherence and improved outcomes. However, it’s essential to remain cautious until more clinical data is available. Initial Phase 1 results are encouraging, but subsequent trials will need to confirm efficacy and safety across a larger and more diverse patient population.
The obesity treatment market is enormous and continually growing, driven by rising obesity rates globally. The introduction of an oral treatment like RT-114 could capture significant market share, given the inconvenience and discomfort associated with current injectable treatments. The dual-agonist mechanism also differentiates it from existing drugs, potentially offering superior efficacy and additional benefits related to metabolic health. The successful commercialization of RT-114 could position Rani and ProGen as strong competitors in this lucrative market.
However, the market is also highly competitive, with numerous pharmaceutical companies developing their own obesity treatments. RT-114's success will depend not only on its clinical efficacy but also on its pricing, marketing strategy and ability to gain regulatory approval in multiple regions. For retail investors, this means a potentially high reward if the product succeeds, but also significant risks related to market dynamics and regulatory hurdles.
~ New RT-114 obesity program combines ProGen’s FC Fusion protein conjugated GLP-1/GLP-2 dual agonist, PG-102, with the RaniPill® capsule designed to provide a differentiated oral delivery mechanism with bioavailability comparable to subcutaneous injection ~
~ Rani and ProGen to share responsibilities for the development and commercialization of RT-114, including a 50/50 cost and revenue share arrangement ~
~ Rani to host conference call today at 8:00 a.m. ET/5:00 a.m. PT ~
SAN JOSE, Calif., June 24, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Rani Therapeutics Holdings, Inc. (“Rani Therapeutics” or “Rani”)(Nasdaq: RANI), a clinical-stage biotherapeutics company focused on the oral delivery of biologics and drugs, today announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement with ProGen Co., Ltd. (“ProGen”)(Konex: 296160), a South Korean clinical-stage biotech company developing next generation long-acting, multi-specific fusion protein therapeutics, for the co-development and commercialization of RT-114, an oral RaniPill® capsule containing ProGen’s PG-102, a GLP-1/GLP-2 dual agonist, for the treatment of obesity.
“This collaboration with ProGen reinforces Rani’s clear commitment to improving the lives of people suffering from chronic conditions, such as obesity, by replacing painful injections with the convenience of a pill,” said Talat Imran, Chief Executive Officer of Rani Therapeutics. “We chose to collaborate with ProGen based on the potentially unique pharmacokinetic (PK) and tolerability profile of PG-102 in a RaniPill® capsule. Given the long half-life of PG-102, the parties intend to pursue development of RT-114 as a convenient, weekly oral dose. It also has the potential to improve body composition and nutritional health of patients owing to the unique mechanism of action of GLP-2. We look forward to working with ProGen to advance RT-114 with the goal of creating a truly differentiated oral anti-obesity medicine designed to enhance patients’ adherence and maximize therapeutic effects with bioavailability comparable to subcutaneous injections.”
“This partnership brings together Rani’s oral biologics delivery expertise with ProGen’s two decades of experience in Fc-fusion proteins to enable development of a potentially unique oral therapy option for people with obesity,” said Dr. Jong-Gyun Kim, Chief Executive Officer of ProGen. “Together, we are focused on pursuing RT-114 as a potential first-in-class, oral dual agonist in the anti-obesity arena.”
Under the terms of the collaboration agreement, Rani and ProGen agree to share responsibilities for the development and commercialization of RT-114 worldwide, including a 50/50 cost and revenue share arrangement. Rani has exclusive rights to lead development and commercialization of RT-114 in the United States, Europe, Canada and Australia, and ProGen has exclusive rights to lead development and commercialization in the rest of the world. Each party has certain rights to sublicense in its territories. Rani is designated to lead operationally in conducting preclinical and development activities through the Phase 1 program, which is expected to initiate in 2025. As part of this agreement, there is no upfront payment or financial exchange between the companies.
Rani has developed the RaniPill® capsule, which is a novel, proprietary and patented platform technology, intended to replace subcutaneous injection or intravenous infusion of biologics and drugs with oral dosing. Rani has tested 15 molecules in the RaniPill® platform. The RaniPill® platform has delivered antibodies, peptides and large proteins with high bioavailability. To date, Rani has completed three Phase 1 clinical studies with the RaniPill® capsule. Additionally, ProGen’s preclinical studies demonstrated that treatment with PG-102 resulted in greater glycemic control while inducing a similar degree of body weight loss versus semaglutide and tirzepatide.1
ProGen recently presented results from its Phase 1 single-ascending dose study of PG-102, a GLP-1/GLP-2 dual agonist, at the 2024 American Diabetes Association conference in which PG-102 showed a favorable safety profile with lower frequencies of gastrointestinal (GI) side effects compared to competitors’ trials in similar settings. Additionally, the PK/pharmacodynamic (PD) data from this trial and preclinical studies support potential dosing of RT-114 on a weekly to monthly schedule, which could improve patient compliance.
Conference Call
Rani will host a corresponding conference call and live webcast on June 24, 2024, at 8:00 a.m. ET/5:00 a.m. PT to discuss the ProGen collaboration. Individuals interested in listening to the live conference call may do so by using the webcast link in the “Investors” section of the Company’s website at www.ranitherapeutics.com. A webcast replay will be available in the investor relations section on the Company’s website for 90 days following the completion of the call.
About Rani Therapeutics
Rani Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biotherapeutics company focused on advancing technologies to enable the development of orally administered biologics and drugs. Rani has developed the RaniPill® capsule, which is a novel, proprietary and patented platform technology, intended to replace subcutaneous injection or intravenous infusion of biologics and drugs with oral dosing. Rani has successfully conducted several preclinical and clinical studies to evaluate safety, tolerability and bioavailability using RaniPill® capsule technology. For more information, visit ranitherapeutics.com.
About ProGen
ProGen is a South Korean clinical-stage biotech company developing next generation long-acting biologics for the treatment of metabolic diseases (obesity, type 2 diabetes, etc.) and immune-mediated diseases (inflammatory diseases and cancer). ProGen harnesses its proprietary technology platform known as Neo Tri-ImmunoGlobulin (NTIG®) that enables multi-targeting and allows drugs to have longer in vivo persistence than conventional Fc-fusion proteins. ProGen is currently focusing on the development of its lead product PG-102, a GLP-1/GLP-2-NTIG® fusion protein for the treatment of obesity and type 2 diabetes. PG-102 has shown improvement of body composition and glycemic control compared to tirzepatide in mouse models of obesity with and without type 2 diabetes.2 PG-102 is currently being investigated in a Phase 1b multiple ascending dose trial in Korea.
Forward-Looking Statements
Statements contained in this press release regarding matters that are not historical facts are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements include statements regarding, among other things, the potential for RT-114 to be an oral treatment for obesity, the potential for RT-114 to be dosed weekly or less frequently, the potential for RT-114 to have a unique and differentiated product profile, success of the collaboration with ProGen and related activities, and the potential for Rani to make oral biologics a reality for millions of patients living with chronic conditions. Because such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Words such as “believe,” “design,” “intend,” “look forward,” “could,” “plan,” “goal,” “potential,” “will,” “would” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based upon Rani’s current expectations and involve assumptions that may never materialize or may prove to be incorrect. Actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements as a result of various risks and uncertainties, which include, without limitation, risks and uncertainties associated with Rani’s business in general and the other risks described in Rani’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including Rani’s annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, and subsequent filings and reports by Rani. All forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of the date on which they were made and are based on management’s assumptions and estimates as of such date. Rani undertakes no obligation to update such statements to reflect events that occur or circumstances that exist after the date on which they were made, except as required by law.
Investor Contact:
investors@ranitherapeutics.com
Media Contact:
media@ranitherapeutics.com
1 PG-102, Next Generation GLP-1/GLP-2 Dual Agonist for the Treatment of Metabolic Diseases. Presentation at 2024 BIO Korea
2 Fat-specific weight loss in diet-induced obesity mouse model when treated with bispecific GLP-1R/GLP-2R agonist vs. dual GLP1R/GIPR agonist. Presentation at 59th EASD Annual Meeting
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