Hanmi Pharmaceutical has signed technology-transfer agreements with Genentech and Eli Lilly worth up to a combined 5.0865 trillion won over three months, including 375.8 billion won in upfront payments. The deals cover HM17321, a UCN2 analog in Phase 1 development for obesity, diabetes and related metabolic diseases, and Sonepheglutide, a biologic candidate in global Phase 2 trials for short bowel syndrome. Genentech, a Roche subsidiary, agreed to pay up to $2.3 billion, including a $190 million upfront payment, while Lilly agreed to pay up to $1.26 billion, including $75 million upfront. Hanmi has devoted 14% to 15% of annual revenue to research and development and spent 229.0 billion won last year and 125.5 billion won in the first half of this year. Its second-quarter operating profit rose 116.9% year over year to 131.1 billion won. Hanmi has operated its H.O.P. obesity pipeline since 2023 and is preparing to commercialize its obesity drug Epe within the year. South Korea's pharmaceutical and biotech tech exports are positioned to set a record after publicly disclosed contract values exceeded $11 billion through August, compared with about $15 billion for all of last year.