Roche and Zealand Partner in $5.3 Billion Deal for Obesity Drug Development

The collaboration aims to co-develop Zealand's petrelintide and combine it with Roche's CT-388 to address the growing weight-loss drug market.

Roche will pay Zealand Pharma up to $5.3 billion, including $1.65 billion in upfront payments, development milestones, and sales-based milestones.
The partnership focuses on petrelintide, an amylin analog designed to aid in weight management, both as a standalone therapy and in combination with Roche's CT-388.
Petrelintide is currently undergoing Phase IIb trials for obese and overweight patients, with and without type 2 diabetes, under studies named ZUPREME-1 and ZUPREME-2.
Roche will co-commercialize petrelintide in the U.S. and Europe with Zealand, while holding exclusive commercialization rights in other regions.
The deal positions Roche to compete in the lucrative weight-loss drug market, currently dominated by Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly, by leveraging its expertise in cardiovascular and metabolic diseases.