Swiss pharmaceutical company Roche is set to acquire anti-obesity drug developer Carmot Therapeutics for $2.7 billion in cash, with the potential for an additional $400 million based on milestones. Roche aims to challenge the dominance of Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly in the global weight loss drugs market. However, the drugs developed by Carmot are still in the early stages, and Roche's CEO expects they may not be available until 2030 or later. The acquisition will provide Roche access to Carmot's research and development portfolio, including promising drug candidates such as CT-388, a once-weekly injection, and CT-996, a once-daily oral candidate. The obesity drugs market is estimated to be worth $200 billion in the next decade, attracting new entrants while established players struggle to meet demand.
Swiss drugmaker Roche has agreed to acquire obesity drug developer Carmot Therapeutics for $2.7 billion upfront, joining the race to challenge weight-loss drug leaders Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly. Carmot's lead drug candidate, a once-a-week injection called CT-388, is a dual GLP-1/GIP receptor agonist. Roche aims to develop CT-388 as the best obesity drug in the GLP-1 class, either alone or in combination with other compounds. The weight-loss market is estimated to reach $100 billion, and Roche's move signals its ambition to become a major player in this field.
Roche has agreed to acquire obesity-drug developer Carmot Therapeutics for up to $3.1 billion, gaining access to Carmot's portfolio of trial-stage GLP-1 agonists. The deal reflects the growing interest of top drugmakers in the booming market for weight-loss drugs, driven by the success of Novo Nordisk's Ozempic. Roche's acquisition aims to capitalize on the expanding market, which is projected to be worth $100 billion annually by 2030. The move comes as pharmaceutical companies race to develop GLP-1 agonists that can rival Novo Nordisk's blockbuster medicines. Roche's shares rose 2% following the announcement.
