Amneal, Metsera form obesity and metabolic drug partnership

Amneal Pharmaceuticals has entered into a strategic partnership with Metsera to develop and supply treatments targeting obesity and metabolic diseases. Under this agreement, Amneal will construct new manufacturing facilities and leverage its current infrastructure to maintain a reliable supply of Metsera's innovative medications. In return, Amneal will obtain the rights to market Metsera’s products in specific emerging regions, including Southeast Asia, Africa, and the Middle East.

The initial product from this collaboration is MET-097, a GLP-1 receptor agonist that has already yielded promising results in terms of weight loss. Clinical trials have shown that the drug facilitates significant and sustained weight reduction, supporting the possibility of a once-monthly dosage schedule. MET-097 has demonstrated a consistent half-life of 380 hours, which is made possible by Metsera’s HALO technology. This technology extends the drug's duration by two to three times compared to existing GLP-1 treatments. The medication has been generally well tolerated, with only mild and transient gastrointestinal issues reported. Metsera is planning to initiate a phase 2b trial for MET-097 in the fourth quarter of 2024, with data availability expected in early 2025.

Amneal is set to establish new facilities in India, dedicated to peptide synthesis and sterile fill-finish manufacturing. The construction of these facilities is anticipated to commence later this year.