[Press Release] Huons has disclosed preclinical research results of its Crohn’s disease drug candidate at an international congress.

Huons (CEO Song Soo-young) announced on the 20th that it presented preclinical research results for 'HUC1A-626', a selective TG2 inhibitor, via a poster presentation at the annual congress of the 'UEG Week 2026' (United European Gastroenterology Week 2026), held in Barcelona, Spain, from October 17th to 20th (local time).

'HUC1A-626' is a candidate molecule currently being developed by Huons for the treatment of fibrostenotic Crohn’s disease (FSCD).

Intestinal fibrosis is a major complication appearing in approximately half of Crohn’s disease patients, characterized by the hardening and narrowing of the intestines. During chronic inflammatory processes, activated intestinal fibroblasts—the key cells responsible for tissue hardening—excessively accumulate extracellular matrix (ECM), which serves as structural support for cells. This leads to thickening of the intestinal wall and strictures that narrow the intestinal lumen. Crohn’s disease presenting in this form is referred to as FSCD.

Currently available biological agents for Crohn’s disease are primarily focused on regulating inflammation, but failed to effectively suppress or reverse already progressed fibrotic lesions, highlighting the need for differentiated mechanism of action.

Fibrotic intestinal tissue is not merely a residual trace left by inflammation. As the tissue becomes physically rigid, fibroblasts sense this biomechanical change and continuously secrete fibrotic factors, resulting in a vicious cycle that further exacerbates tissue fibrosis.

Transglutaminase 2 (TG2) is an enzyme that abnormally cross-links ECM proteins and prevents the degradation of accumulated matrix, essentially acting as a glue that stiffens tissue. Huons’ researchers identified 'HUC1A-626', an oral TG2 inhibitor designed to act locally within the intestinal tract, and subsequently validated its anti-fibrotic effects across multiple cell and animal models.

As a result, HUC1A-626 demonstrated high inhibitory potency and selectivity against TG2. In experiments using human colon-derived fibroblasts, TG2 inhibition confirmed multi-pathway anti-fibrotic effects. In animal models, fibrotic lesions and insoluble collagen content were reduced, showing distinct anti-fibrotic efficacy in both histological and quantitative analyses.

These findings align with recent academic research trends suggesting that TG2 is more closely correlated with the degree of strictural fibrosis than with inflammatory responses. Based on these data, Huons plans to present a novel therapeutic strategy that targets the root cause of the disease, setting itself apart from conventional treatments.

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, "We aim to develop HUC1A-626 as a first-in-class innovative drug that breaks the self-perpetuating cycle of fibrosis that persists even after inflammation subsides, providing a fundamental solution for patients with fibrostenotic Crohn’s disease."