Pfizer boosts its obesity plans with $2bn GLP-1 YaoPharma deal

Pfizer is adding to its cardiometabolic pipeline with a new, glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist-focused license agreement, worth up to $1.935 billion.

The deal with China-based manufacturer YaoPharma will focus on development, manufacture and commercialisation of its phase I GLP-1 drug YP05002.

YaoPharma will receive $150 million upfront and is eligible for milestone payments plus tiered royalties on sales, if the deal is approved.

This news marks another development in Pfizer’s efforts to secure the next potential obesity blockbuster drug. After a surprise contest with Novo Nordisk in October over its plans to acquire Metsera, the pharmaceutical giant won out in November to seal the deal for the biopharma company.

Dr Chris Boshoff, PhD, Chief Scientific Officer and President, Research & Development at Pfizer, said: “We look forward to contributing our expertise and resources to continue the development of this investigational GLP-1 small molecule which complements and strengthens our growing portfolio of novel candidates for treating obesity and its adjacent diseases.

“Cardiometabolic research is a strategic priority for Pfizer that has the potential to be a key driver of growth for our business.”

YaoPharma’s small molecule drug YP05002 is being evaluated in early stage clinical trials for use in managing chronic obesity.

Once those are completed, Pfizer will gain exclusive license to further develop and commercialise the drug globally. Related clinical activity includes combination studies of YP05002 with its phase II-active glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide receptor (GIPR) antagonist PF-07976016, alongside other small molecules.

Liu Qiang, Chairman of YaoPharma, said: “By leveraging Pfizer’s exceptional global development experience and commercialisation network, along with YaoPharma’s profound expertise in small molecule R&D and manufacturing, our shared goal is to accelerate the global development and commercialisation of this innovative drug, thereby benefiting patients worldwide more rapidly and extensively.”

Pfizer’s moves with Metsera and now YaoPharma add to continued competition in the obesity drug market, which has also seen Teva Pharmaceuticals gain US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval in August of a generic GLP-1 of its version of Novo Nordisk’s injectable Saxenda (liraglutide).