Biotech Values

[DewDiligence]

For your compilation—HRS-7535 and HRS-9531:

https://www.biopharmadive.com/news/hercules-hengrui-glp-1-diabetes-obesity-bain-atlas-rtw/716371/

Four life science investors are pouring $400 million into a new biotechnology startup that’s licensed a portfolio of weight loss medicines from Chinese drugmaker Jiangsu Hengrui Pharmaceuticals…

The newly created company, currently referred to as “Hercules CM NewCo,” is backed by Bain Capital Life Sciences, RTW Investments, Atlas Venture and Lyra Capital…

…Hercules’ most advanced drug, dubbed HRS-7535 , is an oral “incretin” in Phase 2 testing in people with Type 2 diabetes and obesity. Like Novo Nordisk’s fast-selling injectable drug Wegovy and multiple experimental pills in testing at Novo, Eli Lilly and other companies, it stimulates a gut hormone called GLP-1.

A second candidate, HRS-9531 , is in multiple mid-stage studies in diabetes and obesity. That drug acts on the hormones GLP-1 and GIP , the same targets as Eli Lilly’s Zepbound. Other developers, among them Roche and Viking Therapeutics, have similar therapies in testing. Hengrui’s drug is being developed as a weekly injection and as a tablet.