By I. Edwards HealthDay Reporter<\/b>
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FRIDAY, May 16, 2025 (HealthDay News) \u2014 Danish drugmaker Novo Nordisk<\/a> is teaming up with California-based biotech Septerna to develop new pills to treat obesity, type 2 diabetes<\/a> and other metabolic diseases.<\/p>\n The deal could be worth up to $2.2 billion for Septerna<\/a>. This includes more than $200 million in upfront and short-term milestone payments, plus future rewards tied to research, development and sales. Septerna will also get royalties on any future product sales, The Wall Street Journal <\/em>reported.<\/p>\n Novo Nordisk will pay all the research and development costs for the project.<\/p>\n The U.S. biotech company has developed a platform that finds and develops drugs that target special proteins called G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs).<\/p>\n These proteins help pass chemicals from outside cells to the inside. Many major drugs on the market today also target GPCRs.<\/p>\n Novo Nordisk\u2019s best-known drug, Wegovy<\/a>, targets a GPCR called GLP-1. Eli Lilly\u2019s popular weight-loss drug Zepbound<\/a> targets both GLP-1 and another GPCR called GIP.<\/p>\n \u201cSepterna has demonstrated strong capabilities in GPCR drug discovery,” Marcus Schindler<\/a>, chief scientific officer at Novo Nordisk, told The Wall Street Journal.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cWe are excited about the opportunity to develop oral small molecule medicines directed at multiple targets,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n The two companies plan four programs to create pills that target GPCRs, including GLP-1, GIP and glucagon \u2014 which are important proteins involved in blood sugar and appetite control, The WSJ <\/em>said.<\/p>\n Right now, leading weight-loss drugs must be injected into the body. Pill versions could make the drugs more convenient for patients and easier to ship and store.<\/p>\n About one-third of drugs approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) target GPCRs, according to Novo Nordisk. But an estimated 75% of GPCR targets have not yet been used in medicine, meaning there\u2019s still a big opportunity for discovery.<\/p>\n Septerna\u2019s stock jumped 69% in premarket trading after the deal was announced. Novo Nordisk\u2019s stock rose 1.2% in European trading.<\/p>\n More information<\/strong><\/p>\n The Mayo Clinic has more on prescription weight-loss drugs<\/a>.<\/p>\n