Hengrui Pharma (01276) announced that its subsidiary, Shandong Shengdi Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., has recently received a clinical trial approval notice for HRS-7535 tablets from the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA), with clinical trials to commence in the near future.

HRS-7535 tablets are a novel oral small-molecule glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor (GLP-1R) agonist. By activating the human GLP-1R, it promotes insulin secretion from the pancreas, reduces glucagon secretion, and inhibits gastric emptying. It can also enhance satiety and suppress appetite by acting on the central nervous system, thereby directly reducing energy intake.

Preclinical data indicate that HRS-7535 can significantly improve symptoms of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in animal models. Currently, there are no oral small-molecule GLP-1R agonists available on the global market.

As of now, the cumulative R&D investment for projects related to HRS-7535 tablets amounts to approximately 369.4 million yuan (unaudited).