Hanmi Group announced on Feb. 22 that its group companies, including Hanmi Science and Hanmi Pharm, have more than 600 R&D personnel, including 84 PhDs and 312 master's degree holders, accounting for more than 28 percent of its total employees, the largest in the industry.
Among the employees, there are 76 doctors, veterinarians, and pharmacists, most of whom are engaged in R&D.
The researchers are spread across five R&D departments in Korea, including the Clinical Development Department at the Seoul headquarters, Paltan Center, Dongtan R&D Center, Pyeongtaek Center, and Siheung Hanmi Fine Chemical R&D Center, to conduct drug formulation research and develop new drugs.
In November of last year, Hanmi Group carried out a major reorganization of the Dongtan R&D Center, subdividing it into obesity/metabolism, immune/targeted anti-cancer, and rare diseases. Under the leadership of President Lim Joo-hyun and R&D Center Director Choi In-young, the reorganization was aimed at maximizing technology convergence and communication and collaboration among researchers.
Efpeglenatide, a GLP-1 obesity treatment customized for Koreans, was approved for Phase III clinical trials by the KFDA in October last year, and the first patient was enrolled within two months.
In addition, Efpeglenatide, which is being developed as a treatment for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (MASH), is progressing smoothly in global Phase 2b by Merck Sharp & Dohme (MSD), and Efocipegtrutide, developed for the same indication, has entered global Phase 2 clinical trials, further accelerating clinical development.
