Regeneron secures rights to Hansoh's GLP-1/GIP drug in $2bn deal

Regeneron Pharmaceuticals has entered into a strategic agreement to acquire the rights to an experimental drug developed by Hansoh Pharmaceuticals. The deal, valued at $2 billion, provides Regeneron with exclusive rights to clinically develop and commercialize Hansoh's dual GLP-1/GIP receptor agonist, HS-20094, in regions outside Mainland China, Hong Kong, and Macau.

HS-20094 is a promising candidate, currently administered through a weekly subcutaneous injection. It is undergoing evaluation in a phase 3 trial targeting obesity and a phase 2b study focused on diabetes in China. Previous phase 2 trials have shown positive results regarding its efficacy and safety profiles, according to reports from both companies.

Regeneron's president and chief scientific officer highlighted the ongoing need for effective weight loss solutions despite the success of current therapies. He emphasized that accessing a GLP-1/GIP receptor agonist like HS-20094 would enhance the flexibility of Regeneron's clinical programs targeting obesity. This acquisition aligns with the company's mission to promote sustainable weight loss and its associated health benefits over the long term.

Under the agreement's terms, Regeneron will provide Hansoh with an upfront payment of $80 million. Hansoh is also set to receive up to $1.93 billion, contingent on meeting various development, regulatory, and sales milestones, alongside royalties from global net sales outside their specific territories. Eliza Sun, executive director of Hansoh’s board, expressed optimism about the potential of HS-20094 to reach patients worldwide through this partnership.

Coinciding with this announcement, Regeneron disclosed interim findings from a phase 2 study known as the COURAGE trial. This study investigates the effects of adding trevogrumab, a GDF8 antibody, to the GLP-1 receptor agonist semaglutide in the treatment of obesity. The trial revealed that approximately 35% of the weight loss induced by semaglutide was due to lean mass reduction. However, the combination of semaglutide with trevogrumab, whether paired with Roche’s anti-activin antibody garetosmab or not, improved the preservation of lean mass while promoting a greater reduction in fat mass.

Boaz Hirshberg, Regeneron's senior vice president overseeing clinical development in internal medicine, noted that acquiring HS-20094, a late-stage GLP-1/GIP agonist, would enable the exploration of combination therapies. These combinations could include Regeneron's proprietary drugs and potentially address various comorbidities associated with obesity, such as cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and liver conditions.

This strategic move represents Regeneron's commitment to expanding its therapeutic portfolio in obesity and related health issues. By integrating HS-20094 into its clinical pipeline, Regeneron aims to build on existing successes and address significant unmet medical needs in managing obesity and its complications.