Morningstar

Novo Nordisk Says Experimental Diabetes and Obesity Drug Shows Positive Results

Provided by Dow Jones

By Dominic Chopping

Novo Nordisk said Wednesday that an experimental drug it is developing with Chinese pharmaceutical company The United Bio-Technology (Hengqin) Co. showed "positive" results with a mean body weight reduction of up to 9.8% after a 24-week trial.

The Danish drugmaker agreed to pay up to $2 billion for the rights to the developmental weight-loss and obesity drug last year as it looks to boost its pipeline of next-generation drugs.

The exclusive global licensing deal for UBT251--a drug that targets three different hormones to treat obesity, Type 2 diabetes, and other diseases--means Novo Nordisk has exclusive rights to develop, manufacture, and commercialize UBT251 globally, excluding the Chinese mainland, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan.

In a phase 2 trial in Chinese patients with Type 2 diabetes, UBT251 also showed a mean blood sugar reduction of up to 2.16% while improving patient's waist circumference and blood pressure.

UBT251 differs from Novo Nordisk's current portfolio as it takes a three-pronged approach to weight-loss and blood-sugar control. It combines a GLP-1--the same class of drugs as Novo Nordisk's blockbuster Wegovy and Ozempic--with GIP to reduce appetite and blood sugar, and glucagon to prevent low blood-sugar levels.

The United Bio-Technology (Hengqin) Co. is a subsidiary of The United Laboratories International Holdings.

Write to Dominic Chopping at dominic.chopping@wsj.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

March 25, 2026 02:56 ET (06:56 GMT)

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