By Colin Kellaher
AbbVie is jumping into the burgeoning obesity field, striking a license agreement with Gubra that is potentially worth more than $2 billion to the Danish drug-discovery and contract-research-services company.
AbbVie on Monday said it will pay an initial $350 million to license to develop GUB014295, an amylin peptide discovered and developed by Gubra, for the treatment of obesity.
AbbVie said Gubra will also be eligible for up to $1.875 billion in development, commercial and sales milestone payments under the deal, along with royalties on sales.
Shares of Gubra jumped nearly 22% to 686 Danish kroner ($96.14) in Monday trading.
AbbVie said it will lead development and commercialization activities of GUB014295, an agonist that specifically activates amylin and calcitonin receptors that is currently in a Phase 1 study.
The North Chicago, Ill., biopharmaceutical company said Amylin, a satiety hormone, has been identified as a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of obesity given its role in activating signals to the brain that result in appetite suppression and the reduction of food intake, while also acting as an inhibitory signal to delay gastric emptying.
AbbVie, best known for its autoimmune drugs and aesthetics programs, is trying to make its entry into a booming obesity drug market dominated by blockbusters from Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk.
Write to Colin Kellaher at colin.kellaher@wsj.com
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
March 03, 2025 06:43 ET (11:43 GMT)
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