Latest news with #GPCR
UPI
16-05-2025
- Business
- UPI
Novo Nordisk, U.S. biotech company team up to create obesity pills
Novo Nordisk will pay all the research and development costs for the project to develop new obesity pills. Photo by Towfiqu barbhuiya/ Pexels May 16 (UPI) -- Danish drugmaker Novo Nordisk is teaming up with California-based biotech Septerna to develop new pills to treat obesity, type 2 diabetes and other metabolic diseases. The deal could be worth up to $2.2 billion for Septerna. This includes more than $200 million in upfront and short-term milestone payments, plus future rewards tied to research, development and sales. Septerna will also get royalties on any future product sales, The Wall Street Journal reported. Novo Nordisk will pay all the research and development costs for the project. The U.S. biotech company has developed a platform that finds and develops drugs that target special proteins called G protein-coupled receptors. These proteins help pass chemicals from outside cells to the inside. Many major drugs on the market today also target GPCRs. Novo Nordisk's best-known drug, Wegovy, targets a GPCR called GLP-1. Eli Lilly's popular weight-loss drug Zepbound targets both GLP-1 and another GPCR called GIP. "Septerna has demonstrated strong capabilities in GPCR drug discovery," Marcus Schindler, chief scientific officer at Novo Nordisk, told The Wall Street Journal. "We are excited about the opportunity to develop oral small molecule medicines directed at multiple targets," he added. The two companies plan four programs to create pills that target GPCRs including GLP-1, GIP and glucagon -- which are important proteins involved in blood sugar and appetite control, The Journal said. Right now, leading weight-loss drugs must be injected into the body. Pill versions could make the drugs more convenient for patients and easier to ship and store. About one-third of drugs approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration target GPCRs, according to Novo Nordisk. But an estimated 75% of GPCR targets have not yet been used in medicine, meaning there's still a big opportunity for discovery. Septerna's stock jumped 69% in premarket trading after the deal was announced. Novo Nordisk's stock rose 1.2% in European trading. More information The Mayo Clinic has more on prescription weight-loss drugs. Copyright © 2025 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Septerna Stock Surges on Oral Obesity Drug Deal With Novo Nordisk
Shares of Septerna SEPN surged 51% on May 14 after the company entered into an exclusive global collaboration and license agreement with Danish pharma company, Novo Nordisk NVO, for developing and commercializing oral small molecule medicines for treating obesity, type 2 diabetes and other cardiometabolic diseases. Year to date, shares of Septerna have plunged 55.7% compared with the industry's decline of 8.4%. Image Source: Zacks Investment Research Both companies will jointly conduct research and development activities, as well as candidate selection. NVO will bear all research and development costs for the partnered programs, starting with the investigational new drug enabling activities. Septerna will have the right to opt into a global profit-sharing for one of the product candidates in place of future milestone and royalty payments. Under the deal, Septerna is eligible to receive around $2.2 billion from Novo Nordisk, including an upfront payment of $200 million and near-term milestone payments. SEPN is also entitled to receive tiered royalties on global net sales if a product is commercialized as a result of the above collaboration. The transaction is expected to be closed later in the second quarter of 2025, subject to customary closing conditions. Per the agreement, both SEPN and NVO plan to start four development programs for potential small molecule therapies for key G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) targets, including GLP-1, GIP and glucagon receptors. GPCRs represent a large family of cell surface receptors that transmit signals across cell membranes. The partnership aims to leverage Septerna's expertise in GPCR drug discovery with Novo Nordisk's leadership and innovation in the field of obesity and cardiometabolic diseases. With the latest agreement with Septerna, Novo Nordisk aims to expand its presence in the highly competitive obesity treatment market. The company is rapidly developing a pipeline of oral therapies to diversify from its injectable GLP-1 products, including Wegovy and Ozempic (semaglutide). The deal with SEPN for developing oral obesity pills should complement NVO's obesity pipeline, as oral drugs are easier to use compared to injections, which can improve patient adherence. Year to date, shares of Novo Nordisk have lost 25.1% compared with the industry's decline of 5.8%. Image Source: Zacks Investment Research Competition in the obesity market is intensifying. The market is expected to expand to $100 billion by 2030, according to data from Goldman Sachs. Eli Lilly LLY and Novo Nordisk presently dominate the market. Lilly's popular tirzepatide medicines include diabetes drug Mounjaro and weight loss medicine, Zepbound. However, to stifle increasing competition from Eli Lilly, Novo Nordisk is developing new obesity treatments to stay ahead, especially in the U.S. market. A regulatory application seeking the approval of oral semaglutide 25 mg for weight management is currently under review by the FDA. A final decision from the regulatory body is expected around the turn of the year. Meanwhile, CVS Caremark, a major pharmacy benefit manager ('PBM'), recently announced that it would make NVO's Wegovy its preferred GLP-1 therapy for weight loss, effective July 1. This is likely to give NVO a commercial advantage over its arch rival Lilly in the obesity market. Several other companies like Amgen AMGN and Viking Therapeutics are also making rapid progress in the development of GLP-1-based candidates in their clinical pipeline. Amgen has begun a broad phase III program on its dual GIPR/GLP-1 receptor agonist, MariTide, across obesity, obesity-related conditions and type II diabetes, with the first two phase III studies initiated in March. Viking Therapeutics' dual GIPR/GLP-1 receptor agonist, VK2735, is being developed both as oral and subcutaneous formulations for the treatment of obesity. If successfully developed, AMGN and VKTX's products can pose strong competition to LLY's Mounjaro/Zepbound and NVO's Ozempic/Wegovy in the future. Others like Roche, Merck and AbbVie are also looking to enter the obesity space by in-licensing obesity candidates from smaller biotechs. Septerna and Novo Nordisk currently carry a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) each. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Novo Nordisk A/S (NVO) : Free Stock Analysis Report Eli Lilly and Company (LLY) : Free Stock Analysis Report Amgen Inc. (AMGN) : Free Stock Analysis Report Septerna, Inc. (SEPN) : Free Stock Analysis Report This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research ( Zacks Investment Research Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Novo Nordisk strikes $2.2 billion deal with Septerna to develop new obesity treatments
COPENHAGEN (Reuters) -Novo Nordisk (NVO) has struck a collaboration and licensing deal with U.S. biotech Septerna to develop oral small molecule medicines for obesity, type 2 diabetes and other cardio-metabolic diseases that could be worth up to $2.2 billion for Septerna, they said on Wednesday. Novo, maker of the wildly popular Wegovy weight-loss drug, has sought to further strengthen its position in the potential $150 billion obesity market through the development of next-generation drugs, acquisitions and partnerships. Investors have been concerned that Novo's first-to-market drug is losing its lead to Eli Lilly (LLY), whose U.S. prescriptions for its Zepbound obesity shot have surpassed Wegovy since mid-March. "Novo Nordisk has a rich history of innovation in obesity and diabetes," the Danish company's Chief Scientific Officer Marcus Schindler said in a statement. "We are building on our scientific leadership in this space and developing a broad pipeline across various targets and modalities, including peptides and small molecules," he said. The new partnership includes more than $200 million in upfront and near-term payments for Septerna, the companies said. California-based Septerna is developing therapies targeting G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCR), a class of proteins that serve as a main conduit for chemicals to get past a cell's membrane and be taken up by a cell. GPCR can influence broad physiological processes such as metabolism, secretion, cell growth, and immune responses. The two companies aim to commence four development programmes for potential small molecule therapies directed at select GPCR targets. The collaboration is the second significant pharma deal in obesity in as many months. In March, Roche said it would pay up to $5.3 billion to co-develop and co-commercialise Zealand Pharma's obesity drug candidate. Separately, U.S. regulators this month accepted Novo's submission for an oral version of Wegovy which, if approved, would become the first oral therapy for obesity from the GLP-1 drug class to which both it and Zepbound belong. Goldman Sachs owns a 3.3% stake in Septerna, while healthcare-focused venture capital firm Third Rock Ventures holds 23.7%, according to LSEG data. By subscribing, you are agreeing to Yahoo's Terms and Privacy Policy
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Novo Nordisk A/S: Septerna and Novo Nordisk to collaborate on oral small molecule medicines for obesity and other cardiometabolic diseases
Collaboration combines Novo Nordisk's scientific leadership in obesity and cardiometabolic diseases with Septerna's expertise in G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) drug discovery Goal is to develop multiple oral small molecule therapies for key GPCR targets, including GLP-1, GIP and glucagon receptors Septerna is eligible to receive approximately 2.2 billion US dollars, including more than 200 million dollars in upfront and near-term payments South San Francisco, California, US and Bagsværd, Denmark, 14 May 2025 – Septerna, Inc. (Nasdaq: SEPN) and Novo Nordisk today announced an exclusive global collaboration and license agreement to discover, develop and commercialise oral small molecule medicines for obesity, type 2 diabetes and other cardiometabolic diseases. The companies will initially commence four development programmes for potential small molecule therapies directed to one or more select G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) targets, including the GLP-1, GIP and glucagon receptors. 'Novo Nordisk has a rich history of innovation in obesity and diabetes. We are building on our scientific leadership in this space and developing a broad pipeline across various targets and modalities, including peptides and small molecules. Leveraging different modalities creates important optionality in our pipeline in terms of potential targets, dosing regimens and scalability,' said Marcus Schindler, executive vice president and chief scientific officer of Novo Nordisk. 'Septerna has demonstrated strong capabilities in GPCR drug discovery, and we are excited about the opportunity to develop oral small molecule medicines directed at multiple targets.' GPCRs represent the largest and most diverse family of cell membrane receptors, with hundreds of different GPCRs regulating physiological processes in nearly every organ system of the human body. Using its proprietary Native Complex Platform™, Septerna aims to unlock the full potential of GPCR therapies. The company is focused on the discovery and development of a pipeline of oral small molecules for multiple therapeutic areas, initially focused on endocrinology, immunology and inflammation, and metabolic diseases. 'Novo Nordisk has a long-standing track record of bringing transformative therapies to market, particularly in the field of metabolic disease, which makes them the ideal partner to advance a suite of programmes targeting critical GPCRs for treating obesity, type 2 diabetes and other related conditions,' said Jeffrey Finer, M.D., Ph.D., chief executive officer and co-founder of Septerna. 'This collaboration provides a significant opportunity to create multiple potentially groundbreaking oral medicines, while also providing Septerna with the operational flexibility and resources to advance our diverse portfolio of other GPCR-targeted programmes.' Under the terms of the agreement, Septerna is eligible to receive approximately 2.2 billion US dollars from Novo Nordisk across an upfront payment and research, development and commercial milestone payments. This includes more than 200 million dollars in upfront and near-term milestone payments. Septerna is also eligible to receive tiered royalties on global net sales of marketed products. Novo Nordisk will cover all research and development expenses for partnered programs under the collaboration. The companies will jointly conduct research activities from discovery through development candidate selection. Starting at IND-enabling activities, Novo Nordisk will have sole responsibility for all global development and commercialisation activities. In addition, Septerna has the right to opt in to a worldwide profit share for one program in the collaboration in lieu of future milestones and royalties for that product candidate. The agreement is subject to customary closing conditions, including the expiration or termination of the waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976. Closing is expected to occur in the second quarter of 2025. About GPCRs and Septerna's Native Complex PlatformG protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) represent the largest and most diverse family of cell membrane receptors, with hundreds of different GPCRs regulating physiological processes in nearly every organ system of the human body. They have been the most productive target class in drug discovery history, accounting for approximately one-third of all FDA-approved drugs. However, around 75% of potential GPCR therapeutic targets remain undrugged, representing a substantial untapped opportunity for future drug discovery. Septerna has developed proprietary technologies to isolate, purify, and reconstitute GPCRs outside of cells into complexes with ligands, transducer proteins, and lipid bilayers which mimic cell membranes. These reconstituted assemblies are called Native Complexes because they replicate the natural structure, function, and dynamics of GPCRs in purified biochemical formats. The Native Complex Platform™ is powered by a suite of tools and technologies that allow screening of billions of candidate molecules. It is designed to target specific GPCRs, uncover novel binding pockets for validated receptors, and pursue a wide spectrum of pharmacologies, including agonists (which activate GPCR signalling), antagonists (which inhibit GPCR signalling), and allosteric modulators (which either increase or decrease the degree of GPCR activation by endogenous ligands), to affect GPCR signalling in different ways to achieve desired therapeutic effects. About SepternaSepterna, Inc. is a biotechnology company pioneering a new era of GPCR drug discovery powered by its proprietary Native Complex Platform™. Its industrial-scale platform aims to unlock the full potential of GPCR therapies and has led to the discovery and development of its deep pipeline of oral small molecule product candidates focused initially on treating patients in three therapeutic areas: endocrinology, immunology and inflammation, and metabolic diseases. Septerna was launched by preeminent drug discovery company builders and scientific leaders in the biochemistry, structural biology, and pharmacology of GPCRs. For more information, please visit About Novo NordiskNovo Nordisk is a leading global healthcare company, founded in 1923 and headquartered in Denmark. Our purpose is to drive change to defeat serious chronic diseases, built upon our heritage in diabetes. We do so by pioneering scientific breakthroughs, expanding access to our medicines, and working to prevent and ultimately cure disease. Novo Nordisk employs about 77,400 people in 80 countries and markets its products in around 170 countries. For more information, visit Facebook, X, LinkedIn and YouTube. Contacts for further information Novo Nordisk Media: Ambre James-Brown+45 3079 9289abmo@ Liz Skrbkova (US)+1 609 917 0632lzsk@ Novo Nordisk investors: Jacob Martin Wiborg Rode+45 3075 5956jrde@ Ida Schaap Melvold +45 3077 5649 idmg@ Sina Meyer +45 3079 6656 azey@ Max Ung+45 3077 6414mxun@ Frederik Taylor Pitter +1 609 613 0568fptr@ Septerna Media:Carly Scaduto carly@ Septerna Investors:Renee Leckrenee@ Attachment PR250514-SepternaSign in to access your portfolio
Reuters
14-05-2025
- Business
- Reuters
Novo Nordisk strikes $2.2 billion deal with Septerna to develop new obesity treatments
COPENHAGEN, May 14 (Reuters) - Novo Nordisk has struck a collaboration and licensing deal with U.S. biotech Septerna to develop oral small molecule medicines for obesity, type 2 diabetes and other cardio-metabolic diseases that could be worth up to $2.2 billion for Septerna, they said on Wednesday. Novo ( opens new tab, maker of the wildly popular Wegovy weight-loss drug, has sought to further strengthen its position in the potential $150 billion obesity market through the development of next-generation drugs, acquisitions and partnerships. Investors have been concerned that Novo's first-to-market drug is losing its lead to Eli Lilly (LLY.N), opens new tab, whose U.S. prescriptions for its Zepbound obesity shot have surpassed Wegovy since mid-March. "Novo Nordisk has a rich history of innovation in obesity and diabetes," the Danish company's Chief Scientific Officer Marcus Schindler said in a statement. "We are building on our scientific leadership in this space and developing a broad pipeline across various targets and modalities, including peptides and small molecules," he said. The new partnership includes more than $200 million in upfront and near-term payments for Septerna (SEPN.O), opens new tab, the companies said. California-based Septerna is developing therapies targeting G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCR), a class of proteins that serve as a main conduit for chemicals to get past a cell's membrane and be taken up by a cell. GPCR can influence broad physiological processes such as metabolism, secretion, cell growth, and immune responses. The two companies aim to commence four development programmes for potential small molecule therapies directed at select GPCR targets. The collaboration is the second significant pharma deal in obesity in as many months. In March, Roche said it would pay up to $5.3 billion to co-develop and co-commercialise Zealand Pharma's obesity drug candidate. Separately, U.S. regulators this month accepted Novo's submission for an oral version of Wegovy which, if approved, would become the first oral therapy for obesity from the GLP-1 drug class to which both it and Zepbound belong. Goldman Sachs owns a 3.3% stake in Septerna, while healthcare-focused venture capital firm Third Rock Ventures holds 23.7%, according to LSEG data.
