Zealand Pharma A/S (Zealand) (CPH: ZEAL), a biotechnology company focused on the discovery and development of innovative peptide-based medicines, announced on Tuesday that Boehringer Ingelheim, a research-driven pharmaceutical company, plans to initiate phase 2 development of the GLP-1/glucagon dual agonist BI 456906, which was in-licensed from Zealand.
Reportedly, Boehringer Ingelheim and Zealand have a longstanding partnership, bringing together Zealand's expertise in the discovery of innovative peptide-based medicines with Boehringer Ingelheim's expertise in the research and development of novel medicines for cardiometabolic diseases.
This compound derived from the natural gut hormone oxyntomodulin activates both the GLP-1 and glucagon receptors that are critical to controlling metabolic functions. The dual agonist BI 456906 has potential as a new, once-weekly treatment that may offer therapeutically relevant benefits compared to currently available treatments. It is part of Boehringer Ingelheim's growing research and development stage portfolio in the obesity and diabetes disease areas.
According to the company, the decision to advance BI 456906 to phase 2 clinical testing is based on the safety and tolerability and the favourable weight loss potential in individuals with a BMI up to 40 kg/m2 (kilograms per square metres). The phase 2 trial will be a dose-finding, placebo and active comparator clinical proof of concept trial in patients with obesity and type 2 diabetes.
Zealand has licensed two product candidates to Boehringer Ingelheim, both with potential for once-weekly administration. Under the terms of the two agreements, Boehringer Ingelheim funds all research, development and commercialisation activities.
For the GLP-1/glucagon dual agonist, Zealand is entitled to receive up to EUR365m in outstanding milestone payments and will receive a milestone payment of EUR20m related to initiation of phase 2.
Also, this agreement carries high-single digit to low-double digit percentage royalties on global sales.
The other collaboration compound is a long-acting amylin analog for which Zealand is entitled to receive up to EUR283m in outstanding milestone payments, and mid-single digit to low-double digit percentage royalties on global sales.
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