403
Sorry!!
Error! We're sorry, but the page you were looking for doesn't exist.
Hengrui Grants Novo Nordisk Global Rights to Experimental Weight Loss Drug
(MENAFN) Chinese pharmaceutical company Hengrui Pharma announced Tuesday that it has reached an agreement with Denmark’s Novo Nordisk to license worldwide rights to its experimental weight-loss treatment in a deal that could reach $2.6 billion.
The drug, HRS-1596, is an oral GLP-1/GIP dual receptor agonist being prepared for Phase I clinical development. The treatment is designed to be taken once a week, according to Hengrui.
Under the agreement, Novo Nordisk will obtain exclusive rights to develop, produce and market HRS-1596 worldwide, with mainland China, Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan excluded from the arrangement.
Hengrui will receive an upfront payment of $300 million. Additional payments tied to development, regulatory approvals and commercial milestones could increase the total value of the agreement to as much as $2.6 billion. Hengrui will also be entitled to royalties based on net sales.
HRS-1596 is intended to support weight reduction and blood sugar management by suppressing appetite, encouraging insulin secretion and improving the body’s sensitivity to insulin.
The Chinese company said the treatment could potentially be used for obesity, type 2 diabetes and other metabolic conditions.
Chinese regulators have already authorized Hengrui to initiate Phase I clinical trials evaluating the drug for weight management and type 2 diabetes.
Novo Nordisk, which markets the obesity treatment Wegovy and diabetes medicine Ozempic, has been strengthening its portfolio of oral therapies targeting obesity and related cardiometabolic conditions. The company’s Wegovy pill received US Food and Drug Administration approval for weight management in 2025.
The licensing agreement still requires US antitrust approval along with the completion of other standard conditions. The transaction is expected to be finalized during the fourth quarter of 2026.
The drug, HRS-1596, is an oral GLP-1/GIP dual receptor agonist being prepared for Phase I clinical development. The treatment is designed to be taken once a week, according to Hengrui.
Under the agreement, Novo Nordisk will obtain exclusive rights to develop, produce and market HRS-1596 worldwide, with mainland China, Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan excluded from the arrangement.
Hengrui will receive an upfront payment of $300 million. Additional payments tied to development, regulatory approvals and commercial milestones could increase the total value of the agreement to as much as $2.6 billion. Hengrui will also be entitled to royalties based on net sales.
HRS-1596 is intended to support weight reduction and blood sugar management by suppressing appetite, encouraging insulin secretion and improving the body’s sensitivity to insulin.
The Chinese company said the treatment could potentially be used for obesity, type 2 diabetes and other metabolic conditions.
Chinese regulators have already authorized Hengrui to initiate Phase I clinical trials evaluating the drug for weight management and type 2 diabetes.
Novo Nordisk, which markets the obesity treatment Wegovy and diabetes medicine Ozempic, has been strengthening its portfolio of oral therapies targeting obesity and related cardiometabolic conditions. The company’s Wegovy pill received US Food and Drug Administration approval for weight management in 2025.
The licensing agreement still requires US antitrust approval along with the completion of other standard conditions. The transaction is expected to be finalized during the fourth quarter of 2026.
Legal Disclaimer:
MENAFN provides the
information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any
responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos,
licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information
contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues
related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.
Comments
No comment