Health · Pharma & Biotech · 1 hr ago
Daewoong wins approval for first trial of inflammatory bowel disease drug
South Korea approved Daewoong Pharmaceutical’s first clinical trial of DWP309008, a drug candidate for inflammatory bowel disease.
The disease involves long-term inflammation in the gut that can flare up and ease, and includes ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease.
The first-stage study will test the drug in 88 healthy adults to assess it before trials in patients.
Daewoong licensed the candidate from InnoVo Therapeutics in May.
DWP309008 is designed to block an enzyme that breaks down PGE2, a substance involved in protecting and repairing the gut lining.
Some patients do not respond well to initial treatment, and healing that lining remains an unmet need.
Daewoong plans a later trial in patients outside South Korea and says it will consider further development and licensing options.
Daewoong Pharmaceutical received approval to begin a South Korean phase 1 trial of its inflammatory bowel disease drug candidate DWP309008.
The phase 1a trial will involve 88 healthy adults.
DWP309008 is an oral candidate designed to inhibit the enzyme 15-PGDH, which breaks down PGE2, a substance involved in protecting and repairing the intestinal lining.
Daewoong plans to pursue a phase 1b trial in foreign patients with inflammatory bowel disease and consider later-stage development and licensing.
- Who
- Daewoong Pharmaceutical.
- What
- It received approval to start a phase 1 trial of DWP309008, an inflammatory bowel disease drug candidate.
- When
- The company said it received approval on November 12, 2026.
- Where
- South Korea.
- Why
- The candidate is being developed for inflammatory bowel disease, which can involve unmet needs including healing damage to the intestinal lining.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Daewoong Pharmaceutical licensed DWP309008 from InnoPharm Therapeutics.
Daewoong said South Korea's Ministry of Food and Drug Safety had approved its phase 1 trial plan.
- Drug candidate
- DWP309008
- Trial stage
- Phase 1a
- Planned participants
- 88 healthy adults
- Licensor
- InnoPharm Therapeutics
- Target enzyme
- 15-PGDH
1 source
What people are saying
We aim to contribute to addressing unmet medical needs through the development of differentiated new drugs.