Novo Nordisk Invests $600 Million to Enter Next-Gen Long-Acting Obesity Therapies with Metaphore and Flagship Pioneering Medicines

May 22, 2024 00:12 CST Updated 00:12

Embark Biotech

Biotechnology Researcher

Novo Nordisk

Insulin Developer and Manufacturer

On May 9, 2024, Novo Nordisk entered into a strategic collaboration with Flagship and its subsidiary Metaphore to develop two next-generation therapies for weight loss. Metaphore will work with...Flagship'sInternal Drug Development DepartmentPioneering Medicines and Novo Nordisk jointly initiate R&D projects, with Metaphore responsible for product development and preclinical research, while Novo Nordisk advances these projects to the clinical stage.

It is reported that the focus of this collaboration is to develop multi-target long-acting drugs targeting the GLP-1 receptor, which can achieve weight loss without frequent dosing. According to the agreement terms, Novo Nordisk mayUp to $600 million in paymentsThe upfront, development, and commercial milestone payments, as well as tiered royalties on annual net sales of the licensed products, will be shared by Metaphore and Pioneering Medicine. Novo Nordisk will also reimburse R&D costs and participate in Metaphore’s future financing. This collaboration will leverage Metaphore's MIMIC platform to design multi-target therapies targeting the GLP-1 receptor and related biology, with the goal ofDevelopment of Long-Acting, drugs that do not require frequent administration. At the same time, this is the third collaboration between Novo Nordisk and Flagship. In the field of weight-loss drugs, Novo Nordisk has been casting a wide net, continuously expanding its reach.2023Novo Nordisk Completes Acquisition ofInversago and Embark BiotechThe acquisition, Inversago's core pipeline, is an oral CB1 reverse agonist INV-202, which plays a significant role in metabolism and appetite regulation. Thus, INV-202 has therapeutic potential in the fields of metabolic diseases such as weight loss and diabetic nephropathy; Embark Biotech is studying a small-molecule "energy expenditure activator" for obesity, which not only has appetite-suppressing effects similar to GLP-1 but can also increase insulin sensitivity and enhance energy consumption.。January 2024, Novo NordiskNew Drug Research Collaboration Reached with Flagship-Incubated Omega Therapeutics and Cellarity to DevelopEpigenetic Drugs for Obesity Management and Novel Therapies for Metabolic Associated Steatohepatitis (MASH), the total amount of each cooperation may be up to 532 million US dollars.

About Novo Nordisk

Novo Nordisk is a world-leading biopharmaceutical company dedicated to human health, benefiting patients, doctors, and society with advanced biotechnology. Novo Nordisk hasThe Most Widely Used Diabetes TreatmentProducts, including the most advanced insulin delivery systems, in addition, Novo Nordisk also leads the world in hemostasis management, growth care hormones, and hormone replacement therapy, among other areas.

Novo Nordisk, headquartered in Copenhagen, the capital of Denmark, now has branches in 79 countries worldwide, production facilities in 6 countries, over 26,300 employees, and sales in 180 countries. In early 1994, the Novo Nordisk Board of Directors approved a strategic investment plan for China and established a presence in Beijing.Novo Nordisk (China) Pharmaceuticals Co., Ltd. and Embark Biotech Research and Development Center have built a modern production plant in Tianjin and established operations in Beijing, Tianjin, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenyang, Wuhan, Jinan, and Hong Kong.Centered around a sales network spread across China.

On April 27, 2021, Novo Nordisk's "Semaglutide Injection" NovoPen® Ozempic was officially approved by the National Medical Products Administration.，Adapted to assist diet and exercise to improve blood glucose control in patients with type 2 diabetes,Registration Certificate No.: National Medical Products Administration Approval No. SJ20210014 and SJ20210015, Product Specifications: 1.34:1.5ml and 1.34:3ml.

On August 16, 2022, Novo Nordisk® Semaglutide Injection as an "adjunct to low-calorie diet and increased physical activityThe phase III clinical trial for the indication of "adult patients with an initial Body Mass Index (BMI) ≥30kg/m2 (obese), or ≥27kg/m2 and <30kg/m2 (overweight) and accompanied by at least one comorbidity associated with being overweight" has been completed.

On March 24, 2023, Novo Nordisk® announced the treatment of adult patients with type 2 diabetes using oral semaglutide Rybelsus (25mg and 50mg).Positive Key Results from the Phase IIIb PIONEER PLUS Study Show Reductions in Blood Sugar and Weight Loss.

In the field of oral weight-loss medicationsIn September 2022, Pfizer also announced the results of a Phase 2b clinical trial of its oral GLP-1 receptor agonist Danuglipron.As a result, data shows that danuglipron has achieved good results in reducing patient weight and is suitable for the treatment plan of obesity. Its Phase III clinical trial is planned to start in early 2022, with an application for market approval in 2025 and an expected market launch in 2026.

On April 6, 2023, Novo Nordisk's oral semaglutide tablet initiated its first Phase III clinical trial for "weight loss" in China.This clinical trial will enroll 200 patients and will be conducted across 15 hospitals, including Peking University People's Hospital, Shanghai Pudong New Area People's Hospital, Huashan Hospital Affiliated to Fudan University, and the Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University.

On May 22, 2023, Novo Nordisk announced the weight loss Phase IIIa OASIS 1 study data for the oral version of semaglutide 50mg tablets.The study results showed that after 68 weeks, patients in the oral semaglutide 50mg group experienced a weight loss of 17.4% (18.34kg), while patients in the placebo group had a weight reduction of 1.8% (1.9kg).

In June 2023, Eli Lilly announced a drug named OrforglipronGLP-1RA Oral TabletsPhase 2 Clinical Trial Data for Obese or Overweight PatientsAfter 36 weeks of taking Orforglipron, patients experienced an average weight loss of 14.7%. In August 2023, according to the official website of the Chinese Drug Clinical Trial Registration and Information Disclosure Platform, Eli Lilly had initiated a Phase 3 clinical trial of Orforglipron for obese or overweight adults in China.

On January 26, 2024, Novo Nordisk's oral semaglutide tablets were approved for marketing., used to treat adult Type 2 diabetes, with the brand name "NovoRin". It is reported that,Novo Nordisk is the world's first and only innovationOral GLP-1RA receptor agonists are expected to set a new standard for oral hypoglycemic treatment in China.

On January 31, 2024, Novo Nordisk released its 2023 financial report, with total sales of approximately USD 34.43 billion in 2023., a year-on-year increase of 36%; net profit was approximately US$12.405 billion, a year-on-year increase of 51%. Among this, the products Ozempic, Rybelsus, and Wegovy containing semaglutide had annual sales of about US$21.615 billion, a year-on-year increase of 88.78%, accounting for 62.78% of total revenue.