Novo Nordisk acquires licensing rights for Lexicon’s obesity treatment.
The company recently announced that it has acquired the global licensing rights to Lexicon Pharmaceuticals’s obesity treatment, LX9851, in a deal potentially valued at up to $1 billion. This agreement grants Novo Nordisk the exclusive rights to develop, manufacture, and commercialize LX9851, an experimental drug designed to treat obesity and related metabolic disorders.
In recent years, Novo Nordisk has worked aggressively to strengthen its position in the growing obesity treatment market through new drug development, strategic acquisitions, and partnerships.
The newly acquired drug, LX9851, is an oral medication that targets ACSL5 (Acyl-CoA Synthetase Long-Chain Family Member 5). This protein plays a crucial role in fat accumulation and energy balance regulation. Lexicon is currently exploring this non-incretin-based drug both as a standalone treatment and in combination with other effective ingredients, such as semaglutide, the active compound found in popular weight-loss medications like Wegovy.
