In a strategic move that could protect its obesity pipeline from future patent litigation, Roche is paying $100 million to secure a license from Structure Therapeutics.<\/p>\n
The agreement grants Roche and its subsidiary Genentech a nonexclusive license to certain patents related to CT-996, the oral GLP-1 drug the Swiss pharma gained from its $2.7 billion buyout of Carmot Therapeutics. Besides the one-time $100 million payment, Roche will also pay Structure\u2019s subsidiary, Gasherbrum Bio, royalties in the low-single-digit range on future net sales of CT-996-related products.<\/p>\n
The deal was signed Dec. 30 and disclosed by Structure in a securities filing<\/a> Jan. 5.<\/p>\n The announcement doesn\u2019t include any specifics on the patents covered. It\u2019s possible that Structure owns intellectual property with potential infringement claims against CT-996 or other related molecules, prompting Roche to secure such a deal.<\/p>\n It was Roche that reached out about a potential license agreement, according to Structure. The license could help the Swiss pharma avoid potential future patent infringement claims, Leerink Partners analysts observed in a note Monday.<\/p>\n CT-996 shares the same chemical scaffold with danuglipron, the oral GLP-1 asset Pfizer axed<\/a> last spring after one patient developed potential drug-induced liver injury. The Roche license is not related to Structure\u2019s own oral GLP-1 receptor agonist, aleniglipron, the company said.<\/p>\n The Roche license deal supports Structure management\u2019s view \u201cthat the company has the broadest and strongest global IP portfolio related to GLP-1 receptor agonist small molecules,\u201d the Leerink team said.<\/p>\n Roche is counting on a suite of newly acquired assets, including CT-996, to become a top-3 obesity company<\/a> after entering the weight loss space through the Carmot buyout. The lead asset from the acquisition, a once-weekly injectable GLP-1\/GIP receptor agonist dubbed CT-388, is being pushed into phase 3.<\/p>\n CT-996 reported<\/a> some early-stage data in 2024, including placebo-adjusted weight reduction of 6.1% after four weeks of treatment in individuals with obesity and without Type 2 diabetes.<\/p>\n Additionally, through a potential $5.3 billion deal, Roche is collaborating<\/a> with Zealand Pharma on the latter\u2019s long-acting amylin analog petrelintide. The deal includes a clause in which Zealand will pay Roche for a fixed-dose combination of petrelintide and CT-388.<\/p>\n