D&D Pharmatech, a Korean biotech company, said it expanded its collaboration with the U.S.-based Metsera for new treatments.
This expansion includes amendments to a previously established agreement for an oral obesity treatment and the initiation of a new global technology transfer agreement for an injectable treatment targeting obesity and MASH (metabolic associated severe hepatopathy).
The original agreement covered the global technology transfer of D&D Pharmatech's peptide oral technology, ORALINK™, applied to obesity treatments DD02S and DD03, and MET06 for 550 billion won ($412.1 million) in April of last year.
The updated agreement now includes the oral GLP-1/GIP dual agonist DD14 and oral amylin agonist DD07, increasing the total possible license out fee by an additional 220 billion won to a total of 770 billion won.
DD14 is being developed as an oral formulation to enhance patient convenience over Eli Lilly's injectable obesity treatment, Zepbound, a GLP-1/GIP dual agonist.
DD07, an amylin receptor agonist previously approved for type 2 diabetes treatment, has shown potential for weight loss, especially when combined with GLP-1 agonists.
In a separate move, D&D Pharmatech and Metsera have also entered into a new agreement for the global license of the injectable triple-G (GLP-1/GIP/GCG triple agonist) DD15, valued at approximately 280 billion won.
DD15, leveraging D&D Pharmatech's long-acting technology, aims to offer multifaceted benefits such as increased satiety, improved glycemic control, and enhanced fat breakdown, showcasing its potential not only as an obesity treatment but also for MASH.
D&D Pharmatech will continue preclinical development necessary for Investigational New Drug (IND) submissions, while Metsera will support all related costs, promising stable revenue generation for D&D Pharmatech beyond milestone payments.
"This expansion of the technology transfer items is believed to be the result of the mutual trust demonstrated through the joint research and development process between the two companies over time," D&D Pharmatech CEO Lee Seul-ki said. "Notably, based on D&D Pharmatech's early-stage material research and development know-how and Metsera's substantial financial support, we are committed to doing our best to grow into a leading company in the next-generation obesity treatment market by simultaneously advancing multiple product groups into clinical trials."