Novo Nordisk licenses Hengrui Pharma’s HRS-1596, a phase 1-ready oral GLP-1/GIP dual agonist with potential once-weekly dosing, in a deal worth up to $2.6 billion.
Written By: Rishabh Sonawane, BPharm
Reviewed By: Pharmacally Editorial Team
Novo Nordisk has licensed global rights outside Greater China to Hengrui Pharma’s HRS-1596, an investigational oral GLP-1/GIP dual receptor agonist with potential for once-weekly dosing. The agreement carries a potential value of up to $2.6 billion, including a $300 million upfront payment and development, regulatory and commercial milestones, plus sales-based royalties.
Novo Adds Oral GLP-1/GIP Candidate to Metabolic Pipeline
Under the agreement, Novo Nordisk will receive exclusive rights to develop, manufacture and commercialize HRS-1596 worldwide, excluding mainland China, Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan.
HRS-1596 is currently phase 1-ready. Hengrui Pharma has received approval in China to initiate phase 1 clinical trials evaluating the candidate in weight management and type 2 diabetes.
The transaction expands Novo Nordisk’s oral metabolic disease pipeline as pharmaceutical companies increasingly pursue less frequent and more convenient alternatives to injectable incretin therapies.
Dual GLP-1 and GIP Activity
HRS-1596 activates both the glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor (GLP-1R) and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide receptor (GIPR). Dual incretin activity can influence several pathways involved in metabolic regulation, including appetite, insulin secretion and insulin sensitivity.
The candidate is being developed for potential use in obesity, type 2 diabetes and other metabolic diseases. Its proposed once-weekly oral regimen could also differentiate it from currently available oral therapies that require more frequent administration.
However, HRS-1596 remains at the preclinical-to-clinical transition stage, and its clinical efficacy, safety, pharmacokinetic profile and feasibility of once-weekly oral dosing have yet to be established in human trials.
Phase 1 Development Will Establish the Clinical Profile
The planned phase 1 program in China will provide the first clinical assessment of HRS-1596. Early-stage studies are expected to characterize safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamic effects before larger trials evaluate weight reduction and glycemic outcomes.
No human efficacy or safety data were disclosed with the licensing agreement. As a result, the candidate’s potential advantages over existing GLP-1-based therapies remain to be demonstrated clinically.
The development strategy will be particularly relevant to determining whether HRS-1596 can maintain adequate systemic exposure and sustained receptor activity with once-weekly oral administration.
Deal Includes $300 Million Upfront Payment
Novo Nordisk will pay Hengrui Pharma $300 million upfront. The total transaction value could reach $2.6 billion if specified development, regulatory and commercial milestones are achieved.
Hengrui will also receive royalties based on net sales in the licensed territories. The companies did not disclose the royalty rate or individual milestone amounts.
Martin Holst Lange, Novo Nordisk’s executive vice president of Research & Development and chief scientific officer, said the agreement supports the company’s strategy of expanding its oral peptide pipeline across obesity, diabetes and other cardiometabolic diseases.
Hengrui chief strategy officer Frank Jiang said the collaboration combines Hengrui’s discovery capabilities with Novo Nordisk’s global experience in GLP-1 therapies and obesity care.
Closing Expected in Fourth Quarter 2026
The transaction remains subject to clearance under the U.S. Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act and other customary closing conditions. Novo Nordisk expects the deal to close in the fourth quarter of 2026.
The immediate development milestone will be initiation of phase 1 testing. Data from these studies will determine whether HRS-1596 can progress into larger clinical programs and establish whether its proposed once-weekly oral formulation can deliver meaningful clinical benefits in obesity and type 2 diabetes.
Reference
Novo and Hengrui Pharma enter exclusive license agreement for once-weekly oral GLP-1/GIP dual receptor agonist HRS-1596, Novo Nordisk, 29 September 2026
Hengrui Pharma and Novo Enter Exclusive License Agreement for Once-Weekly Oral GLP-1/GIP Dual Receptor Agonist HRS-1596, Hengrui, 29 September 2026
About the Writer
Rishabha Sonawane, B.Pharm (LinkedIn) is healthcare writer with a strong interest in medical writing, regulatory affairs, clinical research, and AI-driven drug discovery. He has completed specialized training from the NIH and ICMR in clinical pharmacology, clinical research, and scientific writing. Passionate about evidence-based healthcare communication, he focuses on translating complex scientific research into clear, accurate, and engaging medical content.