Innovent Biologics and Eli Lilly Partner to Develop OXM3, a Long-Acting Dual GLP-1/Glucagon Receptor Agonist for Diabetes and Metabolic Diseases

On August 23, 2019, VCBeat (WeChat ID: vcbeat) learned from foreign media reports that Innovent Biologics announced a collaboration agreement with Eli Lilly and Company to develop and commercialize the long-acting diabetes treatment OXM3 in China.

OXM3 is an oxyntomodulin analog synthesized through the transcription and processing of the proglucagon gene in the intestine, acting as a dual agonist of the glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor (GLP-1R) and the glucagon receptor (GCGR).

Early clinical trials of OXM3 have confirmed its efficacy in treating pathological weight loss and abnormal blood glucose levels, making it a viable therapeutic option for patients with diabetes, obesity, and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). OXM3 is a long-acting molecular drug that requires only once-weekly subcutaneous injection.

Innovent Bio, established in 2011 and headquartered in Jiangsu, China, is a leading biopharmaceutical company. The company primarily manufactures monoclonal antibodies and develops innovative therapeutic drugs for oncology, fundus diseases, autoimmune diseases, and cardiovascular diseases. Innovent Bio’s mission is to produce high-quality, low-cost biologics to reduce patients’ medical costs and meet their healthcare needs. The company was listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange in October 2018.

Innovent Bio possesses an internationally leading R&D and industrialization platform for biopharmaceuticals. The company independently developed the innovative biologic sintilimab, a fully humanized IgG4 monoclonal antibody that specifically binds to PD-1 molecules on the surface of T cells, thereby reactivating T cells to release cytokines and kill tumor cells.

Innovent Bio’s product R&D team comprises a group of professional biopharmaceutical researchers, including many overseas pharmaceutical experts. In addition to Eli Lilly, the company has established strategic collaborations with international pharmaceutical companies such as Adimab, Incyte, and Hanmi Pharmaceuticals. Innovent Bio is committed to increasing the availability of medicines for the general population and promoting the sustainable development of China’s biopharmaceutical industry.

Eli Lilly and Company, founded in 1876 and headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA, is a global leader in biotechnology and pharmaceuticals. The company is primarily engaged in the design, research and development, production, and sales of pharmaceutical products, which are distributed in 135 countries worldwide. Eli Lilly also conducts research on animal diseases, developing medications and health products.

Eli Lilly’s portfolio of medications spans multiple therapeutic areas, including Zyprexa for the treatment of schizophrenia and the management of symptoms associated with bipolar I disorder; Cymbalta for the treatment of major depressive disorder, diabetic peripheral neuropathic pain, generalized anxiety disorder, and fibromyalgia; and Strattera for patients with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), among others.

Mr. Yu Decao, Founder and CEO of Innovent Bio, stated, “We are committed to developing and commercializing high-quality biologics at affordable costs, and our collaboration with Eli Lilly marks a significant step forward for Innovent. Diabetes is considered the chronic disease with the fastest-growing prevalence worldwide. China has approximately 114 million patients with diabetes, far exceeding any other country. We aim to accelerate the development of OXM3 to meet the medical needs of diabetic patients in China.”

(Compiled by Xu Xiaoxue)