Novo Nordisk, The United Laboratories Ink Exclusive License Agreement for Triple Receptor Agonist
Under terms of the license agreement, Novo Nordisk will acquire the rights to develop and commercialize UBT251 outside of China for obesity and type 2 diabetes for an upfront payment of $200 million.
Image Credit: Adobe Stock Images/catalin
Novo Nordisk and The United Laboratories (TUL) have entered into an exclusive license agreement for UBT251, a triple receptor agonist targeting GLP-1, GIP, and glucagon, currently in early-stage clinical development for obesity, type 2 diabetes, and other metabolic diseases.
Under the terms of the deal, Novo Nordisk will pay TUL $200 million upfront, with the potential to receive up to $1.8 billion in milestone payments and tiered royalties on net sales outside of Chinese mainland, Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan. Novo Nordisk will acquire the rights to develop, manufacture, and commercialize UBT251 globally, excluding the aforementioned territories.1
“Novo Nordisk is dedicated to providing improved treatment options for people living with obesity, type 2 diabetes, and other cardiometabolic diseases,” said Martin Holst Lange, EVP, development, Novo Nordisk, in a press release. “The addition of a candidate targeting glucagon, as well as GLP-1 and GIP, will add important optionality to our clinical pipeline, as we look to develop a broad portfolio of differentiated treatment options that cater to the diverse needs of people living with these highly prevalent diseases. We look forward to building on United Biotechnology’s scientific work and further exploring the potential best-in-class properties of UBT251 across cardiometabolic disease indications.”
TUL recently completed a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase Ib trial analyzing UBT251 in China with 36 participants. The study evaluated the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics of multiple subcutaneous (SC) injections of UBT251 in patients with obesity or overweight. Participants were divided into three dosing groups: 1 mg, a titrated 1 mg to 3 mg regimen, and a titrated 1 mg to 3 mg to 6 mg regimen. Each group was given weekly SC injections for 12 weeks.
In the highest dosing group, results show an average weight reduction of 15.1%. In the placebo group, there was an average weight increase of 1.5% from baseline. The treatment also demonstrated a favorable safety profile consistent with incretin-based therapies.1
This marks the second license deal of the month for Novo Nordisk. On March 3, the company announced that it had struck a deal with Gensaic to develop new therapeutic candidates to treat cardiometabolic disease for $354 million, with the potential for additional commercial milestone and tiered royalty payments.2
“We are pleased to announce our exclusive license agreement with Novo Nordisk for UBT251,” said Tsoi Hoi Shan, chairman, TUL, in the press release. “As a leading global biopharmaceutical company, Novo Nordisk holds a strong position in the treatment of chronic diseases. TUL is committed to strengthening its presence in the treatment of chronic diseases, including endocrine and metabolic disorders, while actively expanding its footprint in global markets. We believe that Novo Nordisk’s expertise will play a key role in accelerating the global development of UBT251.”
The deal is pending regulatory clearance and other customary closing conditions. A Phase II trial of UBT251 in overweight and obese individuals is ongoing in China, while additional trials have been cleared in both the United States and China for type 2 diabetes, obesity, and chronic kidney disease. A further trial for metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease has also been cleared in China.1
References
1. The United Laboratories and Novo Nordisk announce exclusive license agreement for UBT251, a GLP-1/GIP/glucagon triple receptor agonist. Novo Nordisk. March 24, 2025. Accessed March 25, 2025. https://www.novonordisk.com/content/nncorp/global/en/news-and-media/news-and-ir-materials/news-details.html?id=915958
2. Gensaic Announces Collaboration with Novo Nordisk to Unlock Next Generation Precision Therapies. Business Wire. March 3, 2025. Accessed March 25, 2025. https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250303601052/en/Gensaic-Announces-Collaboration-with-Novo-Nordisk-to-Unlock-Next-Generation-Precision-Therapies
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