AstraZeneca-Eccogene among largest obesity deals year-to-date

AstraZeneca is re-entering the GLP-1 competition with a deal for an oral obesity therapy it hopes will be more convenient and tolerable than approved injectables. Meanwhile, established GLP-1 players Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly have done deals this year to gain access to new therapeutic mechanisms that could complement GLP-1 agonism.

After discontinuing two GLP-1 agonists this year, AstraZeneca plc (LSE:AZN; NASDAQ:AZN) is trying again. In a deal announced Thursday, AZ gained exclusive ex-China rights to oral GLP-1R agonist ECC5004 from Eccogene (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., for obesity, Type II diabetes and other cardiometabolic conditions. The Chinese biotech receives $185 million up front and is eligible for over $1.8 billion in clinical, regulatory and commercial milestones, plus tiered royalties. Eccogene also retained rights to co-develop and co-commercialize the therapy in China with AZ. ...