Merck signs $2 billion licensing deal for weight loss pill with Hansoh Pharma

Merck has signed a licensing deal with Hansoh Pharma for an experimental weight loss pill, HS-10535, for up to $2 billion. Merck will pay $112 million upfront, with potential additional payments based on milestones and sales. The drug targets the gut hormone GLP-1, similar to existing treatments like Novo Nordisk's Wegovy and Ozempic. It has not yet entered human trials, and Merck has not disclosed its initial testing plans. This agreement positions Merck to compete in the growing obesity drug market, projected to exceed $100 billion annually by the early 2030s. Other companies, including Pfizer and Roche, are also developing oral obesity treatments.