D&D Pharmatech

D&D Pharmatech is a South Korea-based biotechnology company founded in 2014 that develops peptide-based therapeutics, with a portfolio centred on GLP-1 class drugs for metabolic diseases. Its lead injectable candidate, DD01 (zabopegdutide/zabopegdutide), is a once-weekly dual GLP-1/glucagon receptor agonist in development for metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), which completed a US Phase 2 trial in overweight/obese subjects with MASLD/MASH. Oral programs include MET-002o, an oral GLP-1 receptor agonist that entered Phase 1 in North America, and MET-224o and MET-097o, oral long-acting GLP-1 candidates in IND preparation. Additional pipeline assets span NLY01 (pegsebrenatide), a long-acting GLP-1 receptor agonist evaluated in neurodegenerative indications that completed a large North American Phase 2; TLY012, a recombinant DR5 agonist for fibrotic disease; P4M01, an antimicrobial peptide for periodontal disease that completed US Phase 2a; and PET/SPECT imaging tracers PMI04, PMI05, PMI06 and PMI07 targeting CSF1R, CAIX, PD-L1 and FAP.

The company is structured with affiliated units, described as a holding-style operator financing drug development through specialized subsidiaries led by medical researchers. These include US clinical affiliate Neuraly, Inc., which sponsors several of the clinical trials; Valted Seq, which applies the HiF-Seq platform to build large-scale single-cell and single-nucleus genomic datasets for neurodegenerative disease target discovery; and z-alpha, which develops radiopharmaceutical therapies based on the alpha-emitting isotope Astatine-211. Research operations are split between a Korean peptide discovery and design team responsible for early-stage target identification and mechanism research, and a US clinical team handling global trials, regulatory affairs and CMC.

D&D Pharmatech holds granted patents covering oral peptide compositions, long-acting TRAIL receptor agonists, PEGylated exendin-4 analogues and N-terminal modified PEG-TRAIL. Its programs are associated with peer-reviewed publications in journals including Nature Communications, Hepatology, Lancet Neurology and Cell Reports, and clinical data on DD01 have been presented at ADA and EASL scientific meetings.

Business model

The company operates as a holding-style organization that finances and coordinates drug development across specialized subsidiaries and affiliates, advancing internal peptide and radiopharmaceutical programs while entering out-licensing and collaboration agreements with partners for development and commercialization. It also offers clinical development and trial management services through its US affiliate, and large-scale single-cell sequencing and genomic biomarker discovery services.

Traction

DD01 completed a 48-week Phase 2 trial in overweight/obese subjects with MASLD/MASH, with the clinical study report received in August 2026 and 48-week histology results reported; the program previously received US FDA Fast Track designation. NLY01/pegsebrenatide completed a Phase 2 trial in early-stage Parkinson's disease, and P4M01 completed US Phase 2a. Twenty-five drugs and five clinical trials are associated with the company in industry databases, and the company reports Japanese and US patent grants covering MASH and FAP-targeted assets.

Latest developments

In 2026 the company received the final clinical study report for the Phase 2 trial of zabopegdutide (DD01) in MASH, published supporting early clinical results in The Lancet, obtained a Japanese patent decision for zabopegdutide and a US patent decision for the FAP-targeting radiopharmaceutical PMI07, initiated a licensed FAP-target product Phase 2 with a partner milestone expected, presented preclinical results for the UCN2-targeting obesity candidate DD18 at ObesityWeek 2026, and was selected for a Korean Ministry of SMEs and Startups AI-based drug discovery project with Quantum Intelligence for oral peptide immunology therapeutics.