Novo acquires 3 obesity drug candidates, including 1 with a “new mechanism” beyond GLP-1

Danish pharmaceutical company Novo has acquired three early-stage obesity drug candidates from U.S. biotechnology company Calioph.

According to U.S. biotechnology publication Fierce Biotech on the 19th local time, Novo signed an agreement with New York-based biotechnology company Calioph to acquire three obesity drug candidates.

The acquired candidates are not GLP-1-class incretins like semaglutide, Novo’s flagship obesity treatment. Jakob Petersen, Novo’s head of global research, said on LinkedIn that one is a “first-in-class peptide,” another is a “follow-on small-molecule compound” against a novel target, and the third is a “small-molecule receptor agonist.”

Petersen said, “The lead peptide candidate, K-554, is at a stage where an investigational new drug (IND) application can be submitted.”

In January, Calioph described K-554 as a “novel, nonincretin appetite-regulation candidate administered once weekly” and said it was preparing to begin clinical development, with the goal of generating phase 1 data in the second half of this year.

However, K-554 is not currently listed in Calioph’s pipeline or in the U.S. clinical trial registration database.

A Novo spokesperson confirmed to Fierce Biotech that the agreement was a new transaction but said the financial terms and drug targets would not be disclosed for the time being.

Tamara Daro, Novo’s head of global business development, said on LinkedIn, “This acquisition adds promising science developed externally to our obesity pipeline.”

The agreement came one day after Novo signed a $1.4 billion (approximately 1.876 trillion won) deal with Orbis Medicines to develop macrocycle drugs targeting cardiovascular and metabolic diseases.

Novo recently carried out a brand overhaul that removed “Nordisk” from its name and is competing with Eli Lilly in obesity. Mike Doustar, the company’s chief executive officer, told Fierce Biotech that obesity and diabetes remain “core to the business.”

Meanwhile, Novo has additionally discontinued two phase 3 trials of ziltivekimab, which was being developed as a heart failure treatment. The drug had previously failed in phase 3 trials in atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, chronic kidney disease and inflammatory indications.

Analysts had estimated ziltivekimab’s peak sales at approximately $3 billion (approximately 4.02 trillion won) and viewed it as an opportunity for Novo to expand beyond obesity and diabetes into cardiovascular disease.