A mechanism of action with a mixed history but signs of promise piqued the interest of Roche AG’s Genentech unit, which signed a $2.3 billion deal – pledging a humble $190 million up front – with Hanmi Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. to develop, manufacture and commercialize worldwide the latter’s metabolic treatment candidate, HM-17321. Eyed in the deal are obesity and associated conditions such as type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular (CV) diseases. The terms exclude South Korea, where Hanmi is based in Seoul.
BioWorld Asia Deals and M&A Cardiovascular Diabetes Endocrine/metabolic Obesity Asia-Pacific