Roche and Zealand Pharma to co-develop and co-commercialise petrelintide for metabolic diseases

Roche and Zealand Pharma have entered into an exclusive collaboration and licensing agreement to co-develop and co-commercialise petrelintide, Zealand Pharma’s amylin analog as a standalone therapy, as well as a fixed-dose combination with Roche’s lead incretin asset CT-388.

Petrelintide, currently in phase 2 clinical development, is a long-acting amylin analog suitable for once-weekly subcutaneous administration. The available clinical data suggests its potential to become a best-in-class amylin monotherapy, with improved tolerability compared to current weight management treatments and to expand into adjacent indications.

The combination of petrelintide with Roche’s dual GLP-1/GIP receptor agonist CT-388 will further strengthen and expand Roche’s pipeline in the field of cardiovascular, renal, and metabolic (CVRM) diseases. This combination offers the opportunity for best-in-disease efficacy while potentially offering enhanced tolerability.

As a part of this agreement, Zealand Pharma and Roche will co-commercialise petrelintide in the US and Europe, whereas Roche will obtain exclusive rights to commercialisation in the rest of the world. Roche will be responsible for commercial manufacturing and supply.

Under the terms of the agreement, Zealand Pharma will receive upfront cash payments of US$1.65 billion, including US$1.4 billion due upon closing and US$250 million over the first two anniversaries of the collaboration. Zealand Pharma is also eligible for development milestones of US$1.2 billion primarily linked to initiation of Phase 3 trials with petrelintide monotherapy and sales-based milestones of US$2.4 billion, for a total consideration to Zealand Pharma of up to US$5.3 billion. Profits and losses for petrelintide and petrelintide/CT-388 will be shared on a 50/50 basis in the US and Europe, and Zealand Pharma is eligible to receive tiered double-digit royalties up to high teens % royalties on net sales in the rest of the world.

The closing of the transaction is subject to regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions. The parties expect that the transaction will close in Q2 2025.