Zealand Pharma, Roche Reach Potential $5.3 Billion Deal to Develop Petrelintide for Weight Management

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Zealand Pharma and Roche have entered into a global collaboration and license agreement worth up to $5.3 billion to co-develop and co-commercialize petrelintide, an amylin analog with best-in-class potential, as a foundational therapy for weight management and other indications. According to the company, the collaboration includes the development of combination products such as a fixed-dose combination of petrelintide and CT-388, Roche’s dual GLP-1/GIP receptor agonist.

Under terms of the deal, Roche will pay Zealand Pharma $1.65 billion upfront, with the potential to receive up to an additional $5.3 billion in milestone payments and sales-based incentives. A total of $1.4 billion will be due at the time of closing, with $250 million due over the first two years of the deal.^1,2

“We are thrilled to announce this transformational partnership, aiming to maximize the full value of petrelintide to the benefit of people living with overweight and obesity,” said Adam Steensberg, president, CEO, Zealand Pharma, in a press release. “With relentless focus on innovation, a global manufacturing network and commercial reach, a complementary portfolio of clinical programs in obesity, and importantly a shared vision for petrelintide, we consider Roche the ideal partner for Zealand Pharma. We strongly believe that petrelintide holds potential as a foundational therapy for weight management, addressing unmet medical needs among the majority of people living with overweight and obesity, both as stand-alone therapy and in combination with other agents. This collaboration with Roche is a step change to realize this vision, while solidifying Zealand Pharma as a key player in the future management of obesity.”

The companies are expected to share commercialization rights in the United States and Europe. Roche will maintain commercialization rights in all other markets. Roche will oversee commercial manufacturing and supply, while Zealand Pharma retains an option to participate in up to 50% of commercialization efforts in key markets.^1,2

Zealand Pharma announced in December 2024 that it launched the Phase IIb ZUPREME-1 trial analyzing petrelintide in overweight patients with weight-related comorbidities and patients who were obese. The randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group, multinational, multicenter, dose-finding trial will compare petrelintide to placebo. It is estimated that the trial will enroll around 480 patients in the United States, Poland, and Romania.

The primary endpoint of the study is the percentage change in body weight from baseline to week 28. Key secondary endpoints include percentage change in body weight from baseline to week 42, change in waist circumference, change in hemoglobin A1c, change in high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, change in fasting lipids, and change in fasting glucose.³

“We are excited to collaborate with Zealand Pharma and develop this promising therapy, which we hope will provide people living with obesity and related comorbidities a new treatment option. We share the vision to develop petrelintide as a future foundational therapy. By adding petrelintide to our pharmaceutical portfolio and with our Diagnostics expertise in cardiovascular and metabolic diseases, we are aiming to transform the standard of care and positively impact patients' lives,” said Teresa Graham, CEO, Roche Pharmaceuticals, in the press release.

The transaction, which is expected to close in Q2 of this year, is subject to regulatory approvals and other closing conditions.^1,2

References

1. Zealand Pharma and Roche enter collaboration and license agreement to co-develop and co-commercialize petrelintide as a future foundational therapy for people with overweight and obesity. GlobeNewswire. March 12, 2025. Accessed March 12, 2025. https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2025/03/12/3041113/0/en/Zealand-Pharma-and-Roche-enter-collaboration-and-license-agreement-to-co-develop-and-co-commercialize-petrelintide-as-a-future-foundational-therapy-for-people-with-overweight-and-o.html

2. Roche enters into an exclusive collaboration & licensing agreement with Zealand Pharma to co-develop and co-commercialize petrelintide as a potential foundational therapy for people with overweight and obesity. Roche. March 11, 2025. Accessed March 12, 2025. https://www.roche.com/media/releases/med-cor-2025-03-12

3. Zealand Pharma announces first participant enrolled in Phase 2b ZUPREME-1 trial of petrelintide in people with overweight or obesity. GlobeNewswire. December 10, 2024. Accessed March 12, 2025. https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2024/12/10/2994577/0/en/Zealand-Pharma-announces-first-participant-enrolled-in-Phase-2b-ZUPREME-1-trial-of-petrelintide-in-people-with-overweight-or-obesity.html