Apollo Therapeutics Group Ltd. and Sunshine Lake Pharma Co. Ltd. inked a potential $938 million licensing deal for APL-18881 (HEC-88473), Sunshine’s dual fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21)/glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist currently in a phase II study for type 2 diabetes.

Researchers from Congruence Therapeutics Inc. have described the development of a mouse model of genetic obesity with a clinically relevant, naturally occurring human melanocortin MC4 receptor (MC4R) mutation.

Nearly $3.8 billion was earned by Novo Nordisk A/S and Eli Lilly and Co. in the third quarter for their glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) drugs to treat obesity. Novo’s GLP-1 drug, Wegovy (semaglutide), approved by the U.S. FDA in June 2021, had sales of DKK17.3 billion (US$2.5 billion), while Lilly’s Zepbound (tirzepatide), which is a GLP-1 and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide dual agonist FDA-approved in November 2023, posted sales of $1.26 billion for the quarter.

Researchers from Adipo Therapeutics LLC presented data from preclinical studies that aimed to assess the γ-secretase inhibitor ADPO-002 (dibenzazepine) for the treatment of obesity.

Fractyl Health Inc. has nominated RJVA-002, a GIP/GLP-1 dual agonist, as its first pancreatic gene therapy candidate for obesity.

Endevica Bio Inc. has announced the spin-off of a newly created company, Abisati LLC, to develop an oral melanocortin MC4 receptor agonist, 710GO, as a weight loss therapy.

Keybioscience AG and Eli Lilly & Co. have agreed to extend their collaboration on the development of dual amylin and calcitonin receptor agonists (DACRAs), a new class of potential treatments for obesity and related disorders.