Regeneron enters strategic licensing with Hansoh Pharmaceuticals

Regeneron (REGN) Pharmaceuticals “announced a strategic in-licensing agreement with Hansoh Pharmaceuticals Group Company Limited to acquire exclusive clinical development and commercial rights outside of the Chinese Mainland, Hong Kong and Macau for a dual GLP-1/GIP receptor agonist currently in Phase 3 testing. This novel therapeutic candidate – studied in over 1,000 patients and administered as a weekly subcutaneous injection – has demonstrated promising efficacy and safety clinical data, suggesting a potentially similar profile to the only FDA-approved GLP-1/GIP receptor agonist. A Phase 3 trial in obesity in China and Phase 2b study in diabetes are ongoing. Under the terms of the agreement, Regeneron will make an upfront payment to Hansoh of $80 million, with potential additional payments of up to $1.93 billion for achievement of development, regulatory and sales milestones. Future potential royalties for global net sales outside of the designated territories would be in the low double digits.” “Regeneron is committed to advancing better obesity treatments by enhancing quality of weight loss,” said George Yancopoulos, M.D., Ph.D., co-Chair, President and Chief Scientific Officer of Regeneron. “Despite the transformative impact of recent weight loss therapies, significant unmet needs remain, including the ability to sustain weight loss and maintain muscle mass over time. Securing access to a GLP-1/GIP receptor agonist will increase the versatility of our clinical programs for obesity and accelerate our mission to support quality, sustained weight loss and the associated long-term health benefits.”