Huons Reports Preclinical Anti-Fibrotic Data for HUC1A-626 at UEG Week 2026

Huons presented preclinical data on October 20 for HUC1A-626, an oral selective TG2 inhibitor being developed for fibrostenotic Crohn's disease, at UEG Week 2026 in Barcelona. The South Korean KOSDAQ-listed pharmaceutical manufacturer said the candidate reduced fibrotic lesions and insoluble collagen in animal models. Naver reported the presentation.

Huons Reports Anti-Fibrotic Effects in Cell and Animal Models

Huons said it presented the results via a poster at the United European Gastroenterology Week 2026 congress, held in Barcelona from October 17 to 20. HUC1A-626 is a candidate molecule in development for fibrostenotic Crohn's disease, a form in which intestinal fibrosis hardens and narrows the intestine. The company said intestinal fibrosis appears in approximately half of Crohn's disease patients.

According to Huons, transglutaminase 2 is an enzyme that abnormally cross-links extracellular matrix proteins and prevents the degradation of accumulated matrix. The company said its researchers identified HUC1A-626 as an oral TG2 inhibitor designed to act locally within the intestinal tract and validated its anti-fibrotic effects across multiple cell and animal models. In experiments using human colon-derived fibroblasts, TG2 inhibition confirmed multi-pathway anti-fibrotic effects, and in animal models fibrotic lesions and insoluble collagen content were reduced, the company said.

Kyung-mi Park, Vice President and Head of R&D at Huons, said: "Through this study, we confirmed that a TG2 inhibitor can simultaneously control ECM cross-linking and fibroblast activation, which are key drivers of intestinal fibrosis." She added that the company aims to develop HUC1A-626 as a first-in-class innovative drug for patients with fibrostenotic Crohn's disease.

Huons' TG2 Program and Earlier Pipeline Steps

Huons is a South Korean pharmaceutical manufacturer founded in 1965 and headquartered in Seongnam, producing prescription drugs, over-the-counter brands, medical devices and biopharmaceutical CDMO services, according to akta.pro company records. The same records list a Q1 2026 consolidated revenue of KRW 141.9 billion (USD 94.9 million), down 2.7% year-on-year, and an operating loss of KRW 649 million.

In June 2026, Huons was selected by the Korea Drug Development Fund for its 2026 Drug R&D Ecosystem Development Project and will receive government funding over two years to advance a TG2 inhibitor therapy for fibrostenotic Crohn's disease into preclinical development, KBR reported. In July 2026, Huons said the first patient had been registered for a Phase 2 clinical trial of HUC1-394 for dry eye syndrome, Nate News reported. In September 2026, Huons and three local biotech partners were selected for national projects developing new drugs for diabetic eye disease, cancer and drug-resistant tumors, Koreajoongangdaily reported.

Huons' Next Steps for HUC1A-626

Huons said it plans to present a novel therapeutic strategy targeting the root cause of fibrostenotic Crohn's disease, setting it apart from conventional treatments. The company said it aims to develop HUC1A-626 as a first-in-class innovative drug.