[Edaily Reporter Kwon Oh-seok] #Protina, a big data-driven artificial intelligence (AI) new drug development company, announced on the 9th that it presented preclinical data on “PRT-1309,” a long-acting GIPR (glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor) antagonist antibody candidate, at the American Diabetes Association (ADA 2026) conference held from the 5th to the 8th (local time). Protina explained that it was the only Korean company selected for an oral presentation session at this conference.

Recently, GIPR inhibition strategies have emerged as a novel mechanism in the field of obesity treatments. Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have shown that people with variants that impair GIPR function have relatively lower body mass index (BMI) levels. Furthermore, research in this area is gaining momentum as Amgen’s GIPR-targeted candidate ‘MariTide’ has demonstrated significant weight loss effects in clinical trials.
ProTina has derived cross-species antibodies that bind to both humans and rodents by utilizing its proprietary “SPID platform,” which is based on protein-protein interaction (PPI) big data. The company explains that this reduces reliance on “surrogate antibodies” commonly used in preclinical studies and establishes a foundation for more accurately predicting actual clinical outcomes during the non-clinical phase.
In preclinical trials, PRT-1309 demonstrated weight loss effects proportional to the dose increase with just a single administration. The weight loss effect was stably maintained for four weeks without additional dosing, and pharmacokinetic (PK) analysis conducted in healthy animal models confirmed a half-life of 20.3 days. Based on this data, the company plans to develop the drug into a next-generation long-acting maintenance therapy that can extend the dosing interval to 3–6 months in humans.
Safety results were also favorable. Histopathological evaluation conducted on day 26 revealed no signs of specific toxicity in major organs, and liver weight—which had increased due to obesity—as well as fatty liver findings showed a trend toward improvement. Protina assessed the data as suggesting that PRT-1309 has the potential to be used both as a standalone long-term maintenance treatment for obesity and as a next-generation “backbone antibody” that can be used in combination with existing GLP-1 agonists.
A company representative stated, “These study results demonstrate the potential for PRT-1309 to evolve into a long-acting treatment capable of sustaining weight loss effects over the long term with just once-monthly dosing,” adding, “Since combining it with existing GLP-1 class obesity treatments, such as Wegovy, can further enhance weight loss effects, we are actively exploring various collaboration options with global pharmaceutical companies.”