[Edaily Reporter Kwon Oh-seok] Korea Investment & Securities analyzed on the 11th that #Protina is transforming into a new drug development company by utilizing its proprietary protein-protein interaction (PPI) big data generation platform, 'SPID.' However, it did not provide an investment opinion or target price.

Wei Hu-ju, a research fellow at Korea Investment & Securities, stated, “Just 10 months after its IPO, the antibody analysis speed of Protina’s SPID platform has doubled, enabling three researchers to generate data on 10,000 antibody variants per week, which is increasing the number of viable projects.” He added, “In addition to research on the AI-based Biobetter demonstration project, the company is expanding its own pipeline.”
He continued, “Validating the pipelines discovered through SPID in preclinical and clinical trials is the way to enhance the platform’s value,” and assessed, “The company is demonstrating the value of the SPID platform across various indications, including the knee osteoarthritis drug candidate PRT-101, the obesity drug candidate PRT-1309, and drug candidates for autoimmune diseases.”
PRT-101 directly binds to SOX9, a key transcription factor in cartilage formation, to promote cartilage generation by increasing the expression of various genes, including those encoding collagen. When PRT-101 was administered intra-articularly in a mouse model of osteoarthritis, it demonstrated superior results compared to lorcibivint in reducing pain and inflammation and mitigating the extent of cartilage damage during the severe and chronic stages at week 13. The company is expected to initiate a Phase 1 clinical trial in 2028 after securing the Investigational New Drug (IND) application package.
Research Fellow Wi explained, “PRT-1309 is a novel obesity drug candidate capable of controlling the yo-yo effect. It differs from existing drugs in its mechanism of action, as it is an antibody that blocks the gastric inhibitory peptide (GIP) receptor.” He added, “Compared to Maritide, which has a similar mechanism of action, PRT-1309 demonstrates improved binding affinity and productivity, and has demonstrated interspecies cross-reactivity.”
He continued, “In mouse models, we confirmed reduced weight regain after discontinuing terzepatide administration and demonstrated efficacy when used in combination with other obesity treatments.” He added, “Given the nature of the antibody, it can be developed into a long-acting formulation lasting over three months. As it has high utility as a backbone for new obesity drug candidates, we anticipate the development of a concrete development strategy and market positioning within the obesity sector.”