Merck & Co. has secured the rights to an experimental weight loss pill from Chinese drugmaker Hansoh Pharma in a deal worth up to $2 billion. The oral drug, HS-10535, targets a gut hormone called GLP-1 and aims to provide additional cardiometabolic benefits beyond weight reduction.
Under the terms of the deal, Merck will pay Hansoh $112 million upfront and has the potential for an additional $1.9 billion in milestone payments and royalties on sales. The company also plans to commercialize the drug globally.
The move follows other companies like Pfizer and Roche, which are racing to develop more convenient obesity pills that can compete with existing blockbuster injections from Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly. Merck’s CEO had previously expressed interest in GLP-1 treatments with benefits beyond weight loss, citing opportunities for reimbursement in areas such as cardiovascular outcomes and diabetes management.
The deal is the latest in a string of transactions involving experimental GLP-1 drugs from Chinese companies, including AstraZeneca’s licensing of Eccogene’s oral drug.
Source: https://www.cnbc.com/2024/12/18/merck-weight-loss-pill-licensing-deal-hansoh-pharma.html