Novo Nordisk buys three non-incretin obesity programs from Calliope
Lead asset K-554 is a once-weekly peptide acting on neural circuits distinct from GLP-1 and GIP, and is IND-ready.
The wire
- 01Novo Nordisk on September 18 acquired three obesity candidates from US biotech Calliope, all non-incretin: peptide K-554 plus two small molecules, per the report.
- 02Big pharma is hunting mechanisms for patients who respond poorly to GLP-1 or cannot tolerate nausea and vomiting, and for better body composition.
- 03Deal terms were not stated; K-554 is only IND-ready, and comparable bets such as Roche-Zealand petrelintide and Novo's LX9851 remain early.
From the source
Read at asiae.co.kr"GLP-1 Alone Is Not Enough"... Big Pharma Seeks New Mechanisms for Obesity Drugs
Global pharmaceutical companies are now seeking the next growth engine for obesity treatments beyond glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1). This shift is due to the fact that leading drugs like Wegovy and Mounjaro·Zepbound have demonstrated double-digit percentage weight loss, making it increasingly difficult for latecomers to differentiate themselves through similar mechanisms. As a result, pharmaceuti