Key points from article :
AbbVie, one of the last major pharmaceutical companies to enter the obesity treatment race, has partnered with Danish biotech company Gubra in a deal worth up to $2.22 billion. The agreement grants AbbVie global rights to Gubra’s experimental amylin analog, GUBamy, which is currently in early-stage clinical trials. This move positions AbbVie in a market dominated by companies like Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly, who have already invested heavily in obesity treatments.
Gubra, a relatively small biotech with 260 employees, has been developing obesity treatments and previously collaborated with Boehringer Ingelheim. Early trial data showed that high doses of GUBamy led to a 3% reduction in body weight over six weeks, and the drug’s long half-life could allow for weekly dosing. By choosing a partner outside the existing obesity giants, Gubra aims to ensure that its drug receives priority development rather than being sidelined in a crowded pipeline.
For AbbVie, this marks a strategic shift, as the company has historically focused on neuroscience, cancer, and immunology rather than obesity. Although its new program is still in Phase 1 trials, AbbVie’s track record with blockbuster drugs like Humira suggests it could leverage its expertise to compete in the growing obesity market. However, with established players like Lilly and Novo already investing billions in manufacturing and distribution, AbbVie faces a significant challenge in catching up.
