Septerna and Novo Nordisk have signed a global collaboration and licensing agreement to develop oral small-molecule medicines targeting obesity, type 2 diabetes, and other cardiometabolic diseases.
The partnership leverages Novo Nordisk’s expertise in cardiometabolic conditions and Septerna’s proficiency in G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) drug discovery.
It aims to develop multiple therapies focusing on key GPCR targets, such as GLP-1, GIP, and glucagon receptors.
GPCRs are a diverse family of cell membrane receptors vital for regulating physiological processes across various organ systems.
Initially, four development programmes will be launched to explore potential small-molecule therapies for these targets.
Novo Nordisk executive vice president and chief scientific officer Marcus Schindler said: “Novo Nordisk has a rich history of innovation in obesity and diabetes.
“We are building on our scientific leadership in this space and developing a broad pipeline across various targets and modalities, including peptides and small molecules.
“Leveraging different modalities creates important optionality in our pipeline in terms of potential targets, dosing regimens and scalability.
“Septerna has demonstrated strong capabilities in GPCR drug discovery, and we are excited about the opportunity to develop oral small-molecule medicines directed at multiple targets.”
Under the terms of the agreement, Septerna is set to receive around $2.2bn from Novo Nordisk, including over $200m in upfront and near-term payments.
The agreement also includes research, development, and commercial milestone payments, along with tiered royalties on global net sales of marketed products.
The two companies will jointly conduct research activities until the development candidate selection stage.
Novo Nordisk will assume all research and development costs for the joint programmes and lead all global development and commercialisation from the IND-enabling activities onward.
Septerna retains the option to opt in for a worldwide profit share for one programme, foregoing future milestones and royalties for that product candidate.
The agreement is pending customary closing conditions, including compliance with the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976.
The transaction is expected to conclude in the second quarter of 2025.
Septerna’s Native Complex Platform is central to this collaboration, offering proprietary technologies to isolate and reconstitute GPCRs outside cells.
The Native Complexes replicate natural GPCR structures, enabling the screening of billions of candidate molecules and targeting specific GPCRs for novel therapeutic effects.
Septerna co-founder and CEO Jeffrey Finer said: “Novo Nordisk has a long-standing track record of bringing transformative therapies to market, particularly in the field of metabolic disease, which makes them the ideal partner to advance a suite of programmes targeting critical GPCRs for treating obesity, type 2 diabetes and other related conditions.
“This collaboration provides a significant opportunity to create multiple potentially groundbreaking oral medicines, while also providing Septerna with the operational flexibility and resources to advance our diverse portfolio of other GPCR-targeted programmes.”
