Novo to pay Hengrui up to $2.6B for a once-weekly obesity pill
The deal, which hands Novo a challenger to Lilly’s market-leading Zepbound, comes as the Danish drugmaker looks to calm investor fears about its future.
Jiangsu Hengrui Pharmaceuticals (1276) experienced a 1.5% increase in Hong Kong stock prices on Tuesday, following Novo Nordisk's announcement of a lucrative $2.6 billion licensing deal. This surge in Hengrui's shares effectively outperformed the Hang Seng Index, which saw a 1% decline. The agreement grants Novo Nordisk exclusive rights to develop, produce, and sell Hengrui's experimental obesity and diabetes treatment, HRS-1596, globally, barring China, Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan.
The contract includes a significant $300 million upfront payment, with potential additional payments from Hengrui amounting to as much as $2.6 billion, contingent on the drug's success in various stages of development and commercialization.
HRS-1596 is a dual receptor agonist currently in its phase 1 trials, showing promise for once-weekly oral administration. The drug aims to aid in weight loss and regulate glucose levels through mechanisms such as appetite reduction, enhanced insulin secretion, and improved insulin sensitivity. Hengrui has already obtained approval in China to commence phase 1 trials for weight management and type 2 diabetes.
Novo Nordisk views HRS-1596 as a valuable addition to its expanding oral peptide pipeline. However, the deal is contingent upon U.S. antitrust clearance and other closing conditions, with an expected completion in the fourth quarter of 2026.
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