Pfizer has struck an exclusive licensing deal worth more than $2 billion with YaoPharma, a subsidiary of China’s Shanghai Fosun Pharmaceutical, to develop and commercialise an early-stage oral weight-loss drug candidate globally. The small-molecule pill, YP05002, is a glucagon-like peptide‑1 (GLP‑1) receptor agonist currently in Phase 1 development for chronic weight management.
Under the agreement, YaoPharma will complete the ongoing Phase 1 trial, after which Pfizer will take over further development, manufacturing and worldwide marketing of the drug. Pfizer will pay $150 million upfront, while YaoPharma is eligible for up to $1.935 billion in development, regulatory and commercial milestone payments, plus tiered royalties on future sales.
Pfizer plans to study YP05002 in combination with PF‑07976016, its glucose‑dependent insulinotropic polypeptide receptor (GIPR) antagonist currently in Phase 2 trials, as well as with other small molecules in its obesity pipeline. “This investigational GLP‑1 small molecule complements and strengthens our growing portfolio of novel candidates for treating obesity and its adjacent diseases,” said Chris Boshoff, Chief Scientific Officer and President, R&D at Pfizer, calling cardiometabolic research a strategic growth priority for the company.
The deal deepens Pfizer’s renewed push into the lucrative obesity market, coming just weeks after it agreed to acquire obesity drug developer Metsera in a transaction valued at up to $10 billion following a bidding war with Novo Nordisk. It also marks a fresh bet on oral GLP‑1–based therapies after Pfizer previously discontinued development of earlier oral obesity candidates, positioning the company to compete more directly with established players in next‑generation weight-loss treatments.
