Roche and Zealand Pharma announced today a landmark collaboration and licensing agreement to develop and commercialize petrelintide, Zealand's amylin analog with best-in-class potential for weight management. The deal, valued at up to $5.3 billion, aims to establish petrelintide as a foundational therapy for obesity treatment, both as a standalone therapy and in combination with Roche's dual GLP-1/GIP receptor agonist CT-388.
Under the terms of the agreement, Zealand Pharma will receive upfront cash payments of $1.65 billion, including $1.4 billion due at closing and $250 million over the first two anniversaries of the collaboration. The company is also eligible for development milestones of $1.2 billion and sales-based milestones of $2.4 billion.
Strategic Collaboration Details
The two companies will co-develop and co-commercialize petrelintide in the United States and Europe, with profits and losses shared on a 50/50 basis. Roche will obtain exclusive rights to commercialization in the rest of the world, with Zealand eligible to receive tiered double-digit royalties up to high teens percentage on net sales in these markets.
Zealand Pharma will pay Roche $350 million for the contribution of CT-388 in the first combination product arising from the collaboration. Roche will be responsible for commercial manufacturing and supply.
Teresa Graham, CEO of Roche Pharmaceuticals, emphasized the strategic importance of the partnership: "We share the vision to develop petrelintide as a future foundational therapy. By combining petrelintide with our Pharmaceuticals 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."
Petrelintide: A Novel Approach to Obesity Treatment
Petrelintide is a long-acting amylin analog designed for once-weekly subcutaneous administration. Currently in Phase 2b clinical development, the compound has shown promising results in early trials.
In a Phase 1b multiple ascending dose trial, petrelintide demonstrated body weight reductions of up to a mean of 8.6% after 16 weeks, compared to 1.7% for the placebo group. Notably, the treatment was well-tolerated with primarily mild adverse events and minimal gastrointestinal side effects—a significant advantage over current obesity treatments.
Amylin, a hormone co-secreted with insulin in response to nutrients, reduces body weight by restoring sensitivity to the satiety hormone leptin and inducing a sense of fullness. Petrelintide's mechanism of action differs from GLP-1 receptor agonists currently dominating the obesity treatment landscape.
Adam Steensberg, President and CEO of Zealand Pharma, highlighted the transformational nature of the partnership: "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."
Combination Therapy Potential
The collaboration will also develop a fixed-dose combination of petrelintide with Roche's CT-388, a dual GLP-1/GIP receptor agonist currently in Phase 2b clinical trials. This combination offers the potential for enhanced efficacy while potentially offering improved tolerability compared to existing treatments.
CT-388 was designed with minimal β-arrestin recruitment, which significantly minimizes receptor internalization and consequent desensitization, potentially leading to prolonged pharmacological activity.
Addressing a Growing Global Health Crisis
Obesity represents one of the most extensive health challenges globally, with projections suggesting it will affect over 4 billion people by 2035—approximately 50% of the world's population. The condition is associated with more than 200 comorbidities, including cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, fatty liver, and chronic kidney disease.
Despite recent advances in obesity treatment with GLP-1 receptor agonists, significant unmet needs remain. These include the need for treatments with alternative mechanisms of action, better tolerability profiles, increased preservation of lean muscle mass, and greater efficacy for patients requiring substantial weight loss.
Clinical Development Plans
Petrelintide is currently being evaluated in two Phase 2b clinical trials. ZUPREME-1, for people with obesity/overweight without type 2 diabetes, was initiated in December 2024. ZUPREME-2, for people with obesity/overweight with type 2 diabetes, is expected to begin in the first half of 2025.
The closing of the transaction is subject to regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions, with the parties expecting completion in the second quarter of 2025.
Market Impact and Future Outlook
This collaboration positions both companies as significant players in the rapidly expanding obesity treatment market. For Zealand Pharma, the partnership solidifies its role as a key player in obesity management while providing substantial financial resources to advance its pipeline.
For Roche, the addition of petrelintide complements its portfolio in cardiovascular, renal, and metabolic diseases, potentially establishing the company as a major competitor in the obesity treatment landscape currently dominated by companies like Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly.
The scientific advances in understanding obesity biology and the development of novel treatment approaches like petrelintide represent a significant step forward in addressing this global health crisis, offering hope for more effective and tolerable treatment options for millions of patients worldwide.
