Roche and Zealand Pharma Join Forces to Develop Innovative Diabetes Therapies
On 12th March 2025, Roche, a leading global pharmaceutical company, announced an exclusive collaboration and licensing agreement with Zealand Pharma, a Danish biotech company. This partnership aims to co-develop and co-commercialise petrelintide, Zealand Pharma’s amylin analog, as a standalone therapy, and in combination with Roche’s lead incretin asset, CT-388.
What is Petrelintide?
Petrelintide is an amylin analog developed by Zealand Pharma. Amylin is a hormone that is naturally produced in the pancreas and works together with insulin to regulate blood sugar levels. Petrelintide mimics the function of amylin and can help improve glycemic control in people with diabetes. By combining petrelintide with CT-388, the two companies aim to create a more effective therapy for diabetes management.
The Collaboration Details
Under the terms of this agreement, Roche will gain exclusive rights to develop and commercialize petrelintide as a standalone therapy and in combination with CT-388. In return, Zealand Pharma will receive an upfront payment, development milestones, and royalty payments. The financial details of the agreement were not disclosed.
Impact on Me
As a person living with diabetes, this collaboration between Roche and Zealand Pharma could potentially lead to new, more effective diabetes therapies. Petrelintide, as a standalone therapy, could offer an alternative treatment option for those not responding well to current therapies. The fixed-dose combination with CT-388 could provide better glycemic control and potentially reduce the number of injections required daily. However, it’s important to note that this collaboration is still in its early stages, and it will be some time before these therapies reach the market.
Impact on the World
This collaboration could have a significant impact on the diabetes care landscape. The World Health Organization estimates that over 460 million people worldwide have diabetes, and this number is projected to increase. Effective and convenient diabetes therapies are in high demand. By combining their expertise and resources, Roche and Zealand Pharma aim to develop innovative therapies that could improve diabetes management for millions of people around the world. This collaboration could also potentially lead to cost savings for healthcare systems, as more effective therapies could reduce the need for hospitalizations and complications associated with poorly managed diabetes.
Conclusion
Roche and Zealand Pharma’s collaboration to co-develop and co-commercialise petrelintide, an amylin analog, and CT-388, a lead incretin asset, is an exciting development in the diabetes care landscape. This partnership could lead to new, more effective diabetes therapies, offering hope for the millions of people living with diabetes. While it’s still early days, this collaboration could potentially revolutionize diabetes management and improve the lives of those affected by this chronic condition.
- Roche and Zealand Pharma enter into an exclusive collaboration and licensing agreement
- The partnership aims to co-develop and co-commercialise petrelintide and CT-388
- Petrelintide is an amylin analog developed by Zealand Pharma
- CT-388 is a lead incretin asset developed by Roche
- The collaboration could lead to new, more effective diabetes therapies
- The collaboration could potentially reduce the number of injections required daily
- The collaboration could have a significant impact on the diabetes care landscape
