Chasing amylin: Must-have obesity target key to Roche-Zealand deal

The temperature just went up a few more degrees for obesity’s hottest target now that Roche is spending nearly $1.7 billion up front to license half of the U.S. and European rights to Zealand Pharma’s amylin agonist petrelintide. The financials are big, but the most important consideration for the Danish biotech in the hyper-competitive bidding process was gaining a partner committed to investing in the opportunity — including manufacturing — to make the obesity programs a commercial success.

Amylin has quickly become a must-have target for any pharma with long-term ambitions to compete with obesity leaders Novo Nordisk A/S (CSE:NOVO-B; NYSE:NVO) and Eli Lilly and Co. (NYSE:LLY). Roche (SIX:ROG; OTCQX:RHHBY) signaled as much today in its deal with Zealand Pharma A/S (CSE:ZEAL), through which the Swiss pharma gained rights to amylin agonist petrelintide...