Professor Taerin Heo of Kyungpook National University Develops Natural Anti-Obesity Compound

Set to Enter Global Pharmaceutical Market

“We successfully completed trials in Japan and are now close to exporting our natural anti-obesity compound as an exclusive raw material. We’re also in talks with one of the world’s top three pharmaceutical companies for a technology transfer,” said Professor Taerin Heo of Kyungpook National University and CEO of TG Biotech.
Unlike conventional appetite suppressants or fat absorption inhibitors, Prof. Heo is offering a new direction in metabolic disease treatment with a natural compound developed in Korea.

This compound works by activating the body’s "exercise switch," a metabolic pathway involving AMPK (AMP-activated protein kinase), which regulates how energy is stored or consumed as fat. It’s a promising solution to the global crisis of metabolic disorders like diabetes, hypertension, obesity, and hyperlipidemia.

Supported by the Korea Native Plant Utilization Technology Development Program, Prof. Heo discovered this breakthrough through his research into plant-based treatments for metabolic conditions.

“When AMPK—the ‘exercise command switch’ in the body—is activated, it suppresses fat synthesis and promotes β-oxidation, the breakdown of fat. By ingesting substances that activate AMPK, it becomes possible to reduce or treat obesity even with low-intensity or short-duration physical activity.”

The AMPK-activating substance, named TG1022, was extracted from Gynostemma pentaphyllum, a native Korean plant. TG1022 is the core component of the anti-obesity functional food "Xenosline," which is currently undergoing final stages of commercialization. TG1022 has been patented in Korea and filed for patents globally, including in the U.S. It is expected to complete preclinical and human trials this year, targeting regulatory approval as a functional health ingredient with benefits in fat reduction, blood sugar control, and lipid improvement.

Prof. Heo began this research after discovering the IDPc gene, the first obesity-related gene ever identified, and hypothesizing that suppressing this gene could lead to effective treatment for obesity and hyperlipidemia.

“Over the past decade, numerous studies have shown that substances which activate AMPK are promising therapeutic targets for diabetes and obesity. Global pharmaceutical giants and biotech ventures alike are actively exploring this pathway.”

Heo is recognized as the first researcher globally to propose the development of a consumable anti-obesity or anti-diabetic agent by activating AMPK, triggering the body’s fat-burning switch without exercise.

“Metabolic diseases like obesity and diabetes are some of the largest global markets for food and drug products. Many multinational companies are racing to lead this field.”

Inspired by a suggestion from Shin-ho Kang, chairman of Dong-A Pharmaceutical, Prof. Heo founded TG Biotech in 2000, in collaboration with Dong-A and SK. Originally focused on building R&D infrastructure for novel drugs, TG Biotech later pivoted toward functional foods and plant-based therapeutics, which have shorter product development and clinical cycles.

“From sourcing raw materials to manufacturing, quality control, and sales tracking—every step was a challenge. We had to beg for access to factory space and couldn’t use equipment freely. These weren’t problems you encounter in academic research.”

Initially, Heo focused on synthetic drug development, spending three years synthesizing a compound, only to hit a wall due to toxicity concerns related to long-term use.

“If a drug can't pass toxicity tests, that’s the end. We reached a dead end.”
That led him to return to his natural compound data, restarting long-term research in that area.

His team conducted large-scale screening of native Korean plants, re-tested promising candidates, and conducted toxicity tests and animal trials to identify a compound that could activate AMPK without harming cells or organs.

“There are many compounds that activate AMPK, but it’s crucial to find one with biological efficacy that’s non-toxic to the organism. This required a huge number of native plant samples and would not have been possible without national R&D support.”

Looking forward, Prof. Heo plans to develop high-value novel therapeutics from native plants in addition to metabolic health products.
He’s finalizing supply deals with major Korean food companies and is actively negotiating technology transfer and exclusive export agreements with Japanese pharmaceutical companies, paving the way for Korea’s native plant-based compounds to shine on the global pharmaceutical stage.

Follow-up research has also led to low-molecular drug candidates, with ongoing communication with multinational pharmaceutical firms. Joint research on mechanism of action, toxicity, and drug metabolism is underway, with the goal of completing preclinical studies and entering clinical trials within five years.

Source: HelloDD (http://www.hellodd.com)
Original Article: https://www.hellodd.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=26568