Novo Nordisk has entered into an exclusive license agreement with Lexicon Pharmaceuticals Inc. for LX9851, a first-in-class, oral non-incretin development candidate in obesity and associated metabolic disorders.

Under the terms of the agreement, Novo Nordisk obtains an exclusive, worldwide license to develop, manufacture and commercialize LX9851 in all indications. Lexicon will be responsible for completing agreed upon Investigational New Drug (IND) application-enabling activities for LX9851. Novo Nordisk will be responsible for filing the IND, all further development, manufacturing and commercialization of LX9851.

Lexicon is eligible to receive upfront and near-term milestone payments of up to $75 million. In total, Lexicon will be eligible to receive $1 billion in upfront and potential development, regulatory and sales milestone payments. Lexicon is also entitled to tiered royalties on net sales of LX9851.

LX9851, discovered and developed by Lexicon, is a potent and selective oral small molecule inhibitor of Acyl-CoA Synthetase 5 (ACSL5)​. ACSL5 plays a key role in the metabolic pathway which regulates fat accumulation and energy balance. Additionally, LX9851 may activate the ileal brake mechanism leading to increased satiety by delaying gastric emptying and suppressing appetite. Preclinical in vivo efficacy data show that LX9851, when combined with semaglutide, significantly reduced weight, food intake and fat mass compared to semaglutide alone. Separately, LX9851 mitigated weight regain and had positive effects on liver steatosis when introduced after semaglutide discontinuation.

“Novo Nordisk is committed to serving the diverse needs of people living with obesity and other metabolic diseases and to build a pipeline of differentiated drug candidates in this space,” Jacob Sten Petersen, Senior Vice President, Diabetes, Obesity and MASH therapeutic area at Novo Nordisk. “We are pleased to enter this agreement with Lexicon as it will allow us to explore a novel biology and potential treatment paradigm further, and we look forward to building on the great work Lexicon has already done with the development of LX9851.”

“We are thrilled that Novo Nordisk, a global leader in diabetes care and obesity management, has recognized the potential of LX9851,” said Mike Exton, Ph.D., CEO and director of Lexicon. “This arrangement decisively strengthens our financial position, providing optionality as we further invest and accelerate our R&D portfolio.”

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