“HL2351”, which is under development by Handok (CEO Young-jin Kim) as the first bio drug for treating auto-inflammatory diseases, has been selected as one of the projects for the cross-government new drug development program. Funded by the Korea Drug Development Fund, Handok is going to conduct clinical research to develop the new drug.

The auto-inflammatory disease drug “HL2351 (IL1Ra-hyFc)” is Handok’s first bio medicine which the pharmaceutical company is self-developing by applying the long-acting technology of bio venture Genexine Inc. The project aims to achieve the efficacy of the drug for inflammatory diseases including rare diseases and rheum arthritis.

Interlukin-1 inhibitor, the existing drug for treating inflammatory diseases, has a short half life that requires daily injection of the drug, but Handok’s new bio medicine, IL1Ra-hyFc, is expected to maintain its efficacy only with one injection every 1~2 weeks as it employs the long-acting antibody-fusion technology (hyFC). “HL2351” inhibits the effect of Interlukin-1, thereby immediately reducing pyrexia and pain while controlling inflammation. The drug is currently in phase I of clinical trials in healthy men at the Seoul National University Hospital. In the second quarter of 2017, Handok plans to apply for approval as a drug for treating rare diseases.