Key Takeaways
- Novo Nordisk and United Laboratories announced UBT251 achieved average weight reduction of 19.7% over 24 weeks in a mid-stage trial conducted in China.
- The experimental drug activates three hormone pathways: GLP-1, GIP, and glucagon, earning it the designation “triple G” therapy.
- Trial participants experienced primarily mild to moderate gastrointestinal reactions that diminished as treatment continued.
- The announcement follows recent CagriSema trial results that showed lower efficacy compared to Eli Lilly’s Zepbound.
- Novo Nordisk acquired worldwide development rights to UBT251 through a deal valued at up to $2 billion in March 2025.
Novo Nordisk and United Laboratories International announced Tuesday that UBT251, their collaborative obesity treatment candidate, delivered average weight reduction of 19.7% in a mid-stage clinical trial with Chinese participants.
The 24-week study evaluated multiple once-weekly injection dosages of UBT251 compared with placebo among Chinese individuals classified as overweight or obese.
Participants began the trial with an average body weight of 92.2 kg. Those receiving placebo experienced only 2.0% weight reduction during the same timeframe.
Alongside weight reduction, trial participants demonstrated improvements in waist measurement, glucose levels, and blood pressure metrics relative to placebo recipients.
The treatment candidate displayed favorable safety characteristics with good tolerability. Gastrointestinal reactions were predominantly mild to moderate in severity and lessened as the trial progressed.
Researchers classify UBT251 as a “triple G” therapy due to its activation of three distinct hormone pathways: GLP-1, GIP, and glucagon. This mechanism differs from existing single-pathway medications like Wegovy and Zepbound.
The GLP-1 pathway reduces hunger signals. GIP contributes to appetite control and glucose regulation. Glucagon functions to maintain healthy blood-sugar levels.
Comparative Performance Analysis
The Chinese trial data arrives during a challenging period for Novo Nordisk. One day before this announcement, the pharmaceutical company disclosed that CagriSema produced 23% weight loss over 84 weeks, trailing behind Eli Lilly’s tirzepatide, which achieved 25.5% in direct comparison testing.
Novo Nordisk shares declined 3.10% following the CagriSema data release.
United Biotechnology, the division responsible for conducting the Chinese study, intends to advance UBT251 into late-stage clinical testing with Chinese participants following these positive outcomes.
Novo Nordisk has simultaneously initiated its own international trial of UBT251, examining various dosage levels in approximately 330 participants over a maximum of 28 weeks. Data from that study should arrive in 2027.
The pharmaceutical company plans to launch a mid-stage trial focused on Type 2 diabetes patients within the coming year.
Licensing Agreement Details
Novo Nordisk obtained worldwide development and commercialization rights for UBT251 in March 2025 via a licensing arrangement with United Laboratories valued at up to $2 billion. The agreement grants Novo exclusive authority to develop, produce, and market UBT251 across all territories excluding mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan, where United Biotechnology retains control.
This transaction represents one among several strategic partnerships Novo Nordisk has established recently to strengthen its development portfolio. The company pursued acquisition of U.S. biotech Metsera but ultimately lost that competitive bid to Pfizer.
Martin Holst Lange, Chief Scientific Officer at Novo Nordisk, expressed strong optimism about the Chinese trial findings, stating the company feels “very encouraged” by the data and views it as validation of UBT251’s therapeutic potential.
Data from the international UBT251 trial should become available in 2027.
