Regeneron Licenses Hansoh’s GLP-1/GIP Obesity Drug to Compete with Zepbound

Regeneron Pharmaceuticals has entered a strategic in-licensing agreement with Hansoh Pharmaceuticals for the dual GLP-1/GIP receptor agonist HS-20094, granting Regeneron exclusive development and commercial rights outside Chinese Mainland, Hong Kong, and Macau13.

HS-20094 is a late-stage, once-weekly subcutaneous injection currently in Phase III trials for obesity in China and Phase IIb for diabetes, and has shown promising efficacy and safety in over 1,000 patients, potentially rivaling Eli Lilly’s Zepbound (tirzepatide)13.

Under the deal, Hansoh receives $80 million upfront and up to $1.93 billion in additional milestone payments, plus low double-digit royalties on global net sales outside the designated territories23.

Regeneron aims to use HS-20094 to boost its clinical obesity pipeline, particularly after recent setbacks in other drug programs, and plans to study it in combination with its proprietary muscle-sparing and metabolic therapies23.

This move positions Regeneron to compete directly with established GLP-1/GIP therapies like Zepbound, as interest and competition in the obesity drug market continue to grow123.

Sources:

1. https://www.thepharmaletter.com/pharmaceutical/hansoh-licensing-deal-provides-regeneron-with-hs-20094-a-glp-1-gip-receptor-agonist

2. https://www.biospace.com/business/amid-rough-waters-regeneron-puts-nearly-2b-on-the-line-for-chinese-obesity-drug

3. https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2025/06/02/3091733/0/en/Regeneron-Expands-Clinical-Stage-Obesity-Portfolio-with-Strategic-In-Licensing-of-Novel-Dual-GLP-1-GIP-Receptor-Agonist.html