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Investing.com -- Gubra (CSE:GUBRA) shares surged over 23% on Monday after the Danish biotech company announced a licensing deal with U.S. pharmaceutical giant AbbVie (NYSE:ABBV) to develop GUB014295, a long-acting amylin analog for obesity treatment.
The agreement, which grants AbbVie exclusive global rights to the experimental drug, marks the American drugmaker’s entry into the competitive obesity treatment market.
AbbVie will handle development and commercialization of GUB014295, while Gubra will receive $350 million upfront, with potential milestone payments of up to $1.875 billion and tiered royalties on sales. The licensing deal is still subject to regulatory approval and other closing conditions.
GUB014295, currently in a Phase 1 clinical trial, targets amylin and calcitonin receptors to suppress appetite and slow gastric emptying. Early clinical data suggests it could offer a new approach for managing obesity, a condition affecting nearly 900 million adults worldwide.
“Our partnership with Gubra marks our entry into the obesity field, offering a compelling opportunity based on the potential to address patient needs while also fostering long-term growth for our company,” said AbbVie’s chief executive, Robert A. Michael in a joint statement.
The deal positions AbbVie as a contender in the booming obesity drug sector, currently dominated by Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy and Eli Lilly’s Zepbound.
The company’s move into the space reflects growing pharmaceutical interest in weight-loss treatments, with demand surging and market projections climbing into the tens of billions of dollars.
Gubra, which specializes in peptide-based drug discovery and preclinical research, reported revenue of DKK 266 million in 2024.