[Edaily Reporter NA EUN-KYUNG ] Olix Pharmaceuticals, Inc.(226950)will participate in Europe’s largest pharmaceutical and biotech partnering event to continue discussions on global technology transfers for obesity treatments and age-related macular degeneration treatments.

Olix Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced on the 4th that it will participate in “BIO-Europe 2026,” taking place in Cologne, Germany, from the 9th to the 11th (local time), to pursue global technology transfers and expand partnerships.

BIO-Europe is a leading partnering event where global pharmaceutical and biotech companies seek various collaboration opportunities, such as technology transfer and joint development. Olix Pharmaceuticals, Inc.’s Research Institute Director Park Jun-hyun and Head of Business Development (BD) Kelly Kim are scheduled to attend the event and hold partnering meetings with representatives from global pharmaceutical companies and biotech firms.

At the event, Olix Pharmaceuticals, Inc. will highlight its core pipeline—the ALK7-targeted obesity treatment “OLX501A” and the age-related macular degeneration (AMD) treatment “OLX301A”—to focus on discussions regarding technology transfer and joint development. In particular, the company plans to meet directly with global companies with which it has been in ongoing discussions to solidify previous agreements, while also seeking collaboration opportunities with new global pharmaceutical and biotech firms.

OLX501A is a small interfering RNA (siRNA)-based obesity treatment that targets the ALK7 gene, which is involved in signals that inhibit fat breakdown in fat cells. Unlike existing glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) class obesity treatments that suppress appetite, it is being developed with a mechanism that acts directly on fat cells to induce body fat reduction.

In particular, the development goals include minimizing muscle loss during weight loss and enhancing the body fat reduction effect when used in combination with GLP-1-based therapies. Olix Pharmaceuticals, Inc. has previously confirmed the potential for body fat reduction and muscle preservation in animal models of obesity and is currently conducting preclinical development. The company aims to submit an Investigational New Drug (IND) application for a Phase 1 clinical trial next year.

Another key pipeline candidate, OLX301A, is a treatment currently in development for geographic atrophy (GA)—a form of age-related macular degeneration characterized by progressive damage to retinal tissue. Its mechanism of action involves reducing damage to retinal cells by inhibiting the expression of “MyD88,” a protein involved in inflammatory signaling.

Following confirmation of OLX301A’s safety and tolerability in a U.S. Phase 1 clinical trial, Olix Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is now proceeding with a subsequent Phase 2a trial. On the 30th of last month, the company received approval for its Phase 2a trial protocol in Australia, and on the 2nd of this month, it submitted the Phase 2a trial protocol to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Although the company’s Phase 2a application was rejected by a local ethics committee in New Zealand last month, it has since supplemented the relevant documentation and resubmitted the application. In the upcoming clinical trial, the company plans to evaluate the progression of retinal photoreceptor damage in 64 patients with geographic atrophy.

Last February, Olix Pharmaceuticals, Inc. signed a technology transfer agreement with Eli Lilly of the U.S. worth a total of $630 million (approximately 911.7 billion won at the time) for “OLX702A,” a treatment for metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) and obesity. At this event, the company plans to pursue the expansion of global partnerships for its follow-up pipeline based on the success of its previous technology transfer.

In addition, the company will introduce next-generation RNA interference (RNAi) platform technologies, including the “OASIS-D” dual-target platform—which simultaneously modulates two targets within the same tissue—the “OASIS-DUO” dual-organ platform—which modulates two targets in different tissues—and the “OASIS-CNS” central nervous system (CNS) drug delivery platform.

An Olix Pharmaceuticals, Inc. representative stated, “At this year’s Bio Europe, we plan to meet directly with companies with whom we have previously discussed technology transfer and collaboration opportunities to engage in more in-depth discussions,” adding, “We look forward to achieving further progress based on our ongoing discussions and will actively seek partnerships with new global companies.”