Novo and Hengrui Pharma enter exclusive license agreement for once-weekly oral GLP-1/GIP dual receptor agonist HRS-1596

Novo Nordisk has entered into an exclusive license agreement with Hengrui Pharma for HRS-1596, a phase 1-ready once-weekly oral GLP-1/GIP dual receptor agonist. The deal is valued at up to $2.6 billion, including a $300 million upfront payment, with Novo obtaining global rights excluding mainland China, Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan. The drug targets obesity, type 2 diabetes, and other metabolic diseases.