Novo Nordisk has entered into a licensing agreement with Hengrui Pharma for HRS-1596, a Phase 1-ready dual agonist of the glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor (GLP-1R) and gastric inhibitory polypeptide receptor (GIPR).
According to the companies, HRS-1596 is designed to reduce weight and improve glycemic control through multiple mechanisms, including appetite suppression, stimulation of insulin secretion, and improved insulin sensitivity, with potential applications in obesity, type 2 diabetes and other metabolic diseases.
The candidate has the potential to be developed as a once-weekly oral therapy, which could reduce dosing frequency compared with currently available oral treatments.
Hengrui Pharma has received approval in China to initiate phase 1 clinical trials with HRS-1596 for weight management and type 2 diabetes.
Under the agreement, Novo Nordisk will receive exclusive global rights to develop, manufacture and commercialise HRS-1596, excluding mainland China, Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan.
The agreement has a potential total value of up to USD 2.6 billion, including a USD 300 million upfront payment, depending on the achievement of applicable development, regulatory and commercial milestones. Hengrui Pharma is also eligible to receive royalties based on net sales of HRS-1596 in the licensed territories.
Martin Holst Lange, executive vice president, Research & Development and chief scientific officer at Novo, said, “Hengrui Pharma has a proven track record of discovering and advancing innovative therapies with the patients in the center, and we are excited to add HRS-1596 to our growing pipeline and to explore its potential to raise the bar for convenience in the field.”
Frank Jiang, executive vice president and chief strategy officer at Hengrui Pharma, said the collaboration combines Hengrui’s innovation strengths and Novo’s global leadership in GLP-1 therapies and obesity care.
The transaction is subject to clearance under the US Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act and other customary closing conditions. Novo Nordisk and Hengrui Pharma expect the transaction to close in the fourth quarter of 2026.
Ozempic 2 mg Linked to Lower Cardiovascular Risk vs Mounjaro Switch
In another development, Novo has presented new real-world data suggesting that adults with type 2 diabetes who escalated from once-weekly semaglutide injection 1 mg to 2 mg had a statistically significantly lower risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (death, heart attack, and stroke), compared with those who switched to Mounjaro (tirzepatide) at doses up to 15 mg.
The retrospective analysis was presented at the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) Annual Meeting 2026 in Milan, Italy.
The analysis included 636,525 adults with type 2 diabetes who were receiving once-weekly semaglutide 1 mg. Within 365 days of the index date, defined as the date of the first prescription fill for semaglutide 1 mg, 67.2% of patients remained on the 1 mg dose, while 29.2% escalated to semaglutide 2 mg and 3.6% switched to tirzepatide.
At 720 days of follow-up, 57.4% of patients remained on semaglutide 1 mg, while 36.9% had escalated to semaglutide 2 mg and 5.7% had switched to tirzepatide, indicating continued treatment intensification over time.
According to Novo Nordisk, patients who escalated to semaglutide 2 mg had a 6% lower risk of MACE compared with those who switched to tirzepatide up to 15 mg.
“For people with type 2 diabetes, switching therapies or adjusting dosages are often necessary to achieve glycemic control — still, cardiovascular risk should also remain an important consideration,” said Michael Radin, executive medical director at Novo.
Radin said the findings may help provide healthcare professionals with real-world evidence when considering whether to increase the semaglutide dose or switch to another therapy in adults with type 2 diabetes already receiving semaglutide.
