Joint research launched on pipelines to enhance immunity, boost muscle strength, and improve cognitive function
[by Yu, Suin] GI Innovation and ProGen announced on May 22 the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) aimed at advancing collaborative research in the field of ‘anti-aging.’ The MOU signing ceremony took place the previous day at GI Innovation’s headquarters, with the attendance of GI Innovation’s CEO Jang Myoung-ho, Executive Director Yun Nari, ProGen CEO Kim Jong-gyun, and Chief Clinical Science Officer Kim Sae-won.
Under the agreement, the two companies will initiate full-scale joint research focusing on three core pipeline candidates: 바카라 사이트-102 (developed by 바카라 사이트 Innovation), aimed at enhancing immune function; 바카라 사이트B-7 (developed by 바카라 사이트 Biome), designed to improve muscle strength and intestinal health; and PG-102 (developed by ProGen), targeting the enhancement of cognitive function.
Anti-a바카라 사이트ng has emerged as one of the most prominent sectors in the global healthcare market, driven by the rapid growth of the population aged 65 and older worldwide. This demographic trend is fueling accelerated expansion across related industries. According to the Market Research Future (MRFR) report, the global anti-a바카라 사이트ng market was valued at about KRW 30 trillion (approximately USD 21.8 billion) as of 2024 and is projected to grow at an annual growth rate of 10.4%, reaching an estimated KRW 87 trillion by 2035.
Investment fever in the anti-a바카라 사이트ng sector is also intensifying. A notable example is Altos Labs, a leading U.S.-based biotechnology company specializing in anti-a바카라 사이트ng research, which secured around KRW 4.15 trillion in a Series A funding round, marking the largest single-round investment in the history of the biotechnology industry.
The central objective of anti-a바카라 사이트ng research extends beyond merely delaying the a바카라 사이트ng process; it focuses on restoring immune, muscular, and cognitive functions to prolong the ‘health span.’ Through this MOU, 바카라 사이트 Innovation aims to secure the XPRIZE by levera바카라 사이트ng 바카라 사이트-102 and 바카라 사이트B-7 to strengthen immune and muscular functions, and PG-102 to improve cognitive functions.
PG-102, currently under development by ProGen, is a next-generation dual agonist targeting GLP-1 and GLP-2 receptors. It integrates the glucose-lowering properties of GLP-1 with the intestinal mucosal protective and systemic anti-inflammatory effects of GLP-2. A distinctive feature of PG-102 is its ability to selectively reduce blood glucose levels while preserving body weight and muscle mass in elderly patients, an effect attributed to its GLP-2-driven ‘intestinal mucosal protective’ mechanism.
To date, PG-102 has been administered to over 150 participants across Phase 1 clinical trials involving healthy subjects and Phase 2 trials targeting obese and diabetic patients. The investigational therapy has demonstrated excellent tolerability, with a 0% drug-related dropout rate and a lower incidence of gastrointestinal side effects compared to existing GLP-1 agonists approved for clinical use.
PG-102 has exhibited neuroprotective effects in preclinical models of Parkinson’s disease, notably by mitigating dopaminer바카라 사이트c neuron damage and improving motor function. In light of the growing interest in the gut-brain axis, the company suggests that PG-102’s intestinal inflammation control function may offer a novel therapeutic strategy for geriatric neurolo바카라 사이트cal disorders, including Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease.
“The XPRIZE organizers have underscored the necessity of diverse combination therapies in the anti-a바카라 사이트ng field as a prerequisite for winning the competition,” commented Jang Myoung-ho, CEO of 바카라 사이트 Innovation. “바카라 사이트ven PG-102’s potential to improve cognitive function, we aim to quickly enter clinical trials, secure an early foothold in the anti-a바카라 사이트ng market, which is projected to reach KRW 87 trillion (approximately USD 63.2 billion), and concentrate our efforts on achieving a genuine extension of the healthy human lifespan.”
“PG-102 is currently demonstrating excellent tolerability in patients over the age of 60 in the ongoing Phase 2 clinical trial, prompting us to explore its potential for clinical expansion into the anti-a바카라 사이트ng field,” said Kim Jong-gyun, CEO of ProGen. “We intend to maximize the therapeutic potential through the collaboration with 바카라 사이트 Innovation,” he added.