Pharmaceutical Industry Roundup: Obesity Treatments, Neuroscience Deals, and Gene Therapy Developments

In a flurry of recent announcements, pharmaceutical companies have made significant strides in obesity treatments, neuroscience collaborations, and gene therapy advancements. This comprehensive update covers the latest developments from industry leaders and emerging biotech firms.

Regeneron's Obesity Push and Muscle Preservation Efforts

Regeneron Pharmaceuticals has taken bold steps to establish itself in the competitive obesity treatment market. The company disclosed Phase 2 study results suggesting that the addition of one or two of its experimental medicines to Novo Nordisk's Wegovy might help people with obesity preserve muscle mass. However, analyst David Risinger from Leerink Partners described the results as "mixed," noting that the addition of Regeneron's drug resulted in either numerically lower weight loss with comparable tolerability or greater weight loss with worse tolerability.

In a strategic move to expand its weight-loss medicine portfolio, Regeneron announced a deal with Hansoh Pharmaceuticals Group for most worldwide rights to a drug currently in late-stage testing for obesity in China. The drug, which targets the gut hormones GLP-1 and GIP, similar to Eli Lilly's Zepbound, has demonstrated a "potentially similar profile" according to Regeneron. The company paid Hansoh $80 million upfront and could add nearly $2 billion in additional payouts.

Neuroscience Collaborations and Acquisitions

The neuroscience sector has seen significant activity, with several companies forging new partnerships and expanding their portfolios. Atai Life Sciences, a psychedelics developer, is absorbing the rest of U.K.-based Beckley Psytech through an all-share transaction valued at $390 million. The deal, expected to close in the second half of this year, will provide Atai with access to an experimental version of the mind-altering compound mebufotenin.

In another development, Alto Neuroscience has acquired a portfolio of dopamine-boosting drugs in development for depression from Chase Therapeutics for just under $2 million. The deal includes a fixed-dose combination of pramipexole and ondansetron, now code-named ALTO-207, which recently succeeded in a mid-stage study of patients with major depressive disorder. Alto plans to initiate a Phase 2b trial by mid-2026, focusing on treatment-resistant depression.

Gene Therapy Progress and Strategic Moves

UniQure, the Belgium-based gene therapy developer, has made progress in its pursuit of a treatment for Huntington's disease. The company announced an agreement with the FDA on several key components of an approval application for its closely watched treatment, AMT-130. These components include the manufacturing process and updated statistical analysis plans. UniQure aims to have another pre-filing meeting with the FDA late this year and formally submit its application for priority review in early 2026.

In a significant industry move, Carlyle Group and SK Capital have closed a deal to acquire and take private gene therapy developer Bluebird bio. The private equity firms have provided substantial capital to support and scale Bluebird's gene therapies for rare blood and brain diseases. The company will now prioritize building up its manufacturing capabilities and strengthening relationships with insurers.