[Edaily Reporter Na Eun-kyung] #MedFacto announced on the 19th that it presented research findings on its bone disease treatment candidate MP2021 in relation to rheumatoid arthritis at the “Seoul Symposium on Bone Health (SSBH) 2026,” an international academic conference hosted by the Korean Society for Bone and Mineral Metabolism.

This study was conducted jointly by Medfacto and the Gilro Foundation. The research team analyzed the role and mechanisms of TM4SF19—a gene associated with osteoclast activity—in inflammatory arthritis and evaluated the efficacy of MP2021, which targets this gene.

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease in which chronic inflammation occurs in the joints due to an immune system dysfunction. As the disease progresses, osteoclast activity increases alongside inflammation, which can damage cartilage and bone; therefore, inhibiting bone destruction is considered a key treatment goal in addition to controlling inflammation.

The research team confirmed increased expression of TM4SF19 in a collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) animal model. They explained that administration of MP2021 resulted in a reduction in arthritis severity indices and alleviated joint swelling. They announced that they confirmed a decrease in the expression of inflammatory markers as well as a reduction in cartilage damage.

Medfacto is currently developing MP2021 with support from the Korea Drug Development Fund (KDDF) and plans to submit an Investigational New Drug (IND) application by the end of the year.

A Medfacto official stated, “Through this study, we have simultaneously confirmed that MP2021 has the potential to alleviate inflammation and inhibit bone destruction in rheumatoid arthritis.”