Novo Nordisk Expands Obesity Pipeline with $812M Deep Apple Deal

Novo Nordisk has announced a significant expansion of its obesity research and development efforts through an $812 million deal with Deep Apple Therapeutics. This collaboration marks another strategic move by Novo Nordisk to diversify its obesity pipeline beyond incretin-based therapies.

Deal Structure and Target Focus

The agreement grants Novo Nordisk a global license to small molecules targeting a non-incretin G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) with potential applications in cardiometabolic diseases, including obesity. The deal includes an upfront payment, research costs, and milestone payments totaling up to $812 million.

Deep Apple Therapeutics, founded by Apple Tree Partners with $52 million in series A funding, will leverage its artificial intelligence-driven platform to discover and optimize compounds against the undisclosed target. Novo Nordisk will collaborate on the research plan and assume responsibility for development just prior to IND-enabling studies.

Technological Approach

Deep Apple's platform utilizes cryo-electron microscopy to capture the dynamics and motion of GPCRs in various conformations, revealing novel binding pockets. This structural biology capability is combined with virtual libraries to identify small molecules that dock in these binding sites.

The collaboration aims to exploit Deep Apple's expertise in GPCR structural biology and AI-driven drug discovery to develop innovative obesity treatments beyond the current incretin-focused paradigm.

Strategic Context

This deal follows a series of recent partnerships and acquisitions by Novo Nordisk in the obesity space, including:

• A $50 million agreement with Variant Bio
• An expanded $190 million collaboration with Valo Health
• A potential $354 million per target deal with Gensaic
• A $200 million agreement with United Laboratories for a triple agonist
• Investments of $200 million and $75 million in preclinical prospects from Septerna and Lexicon Pharmaceuticals, respectively

These strategic moves come in the wake of Novo Nordisk's next-generation obesity prospect CagriSema falling short of expectations in phase 3 trials late last year. The company is actively seeking to bolster its pipeline and maintain its competitive edge in the rapidly evolving obesity treatment landscape.