Closely-held Inversago Pharma of Montreal agreed to be acquired by Denmark’s Novo Nordisk for up to $1.1-billion (U.S.) in cash if certain development and commercial milestones are achieved.
Inversago Pharma is a developer of CB1 receptor-based therapies for the potential treatment of obesity, diabetes and complications associated with metabolic disorders.
The acquisition of Inversago includes the company’s lead development asset INV-202, an oral CB1 inverse agonist, that has demonstrated weight loss potential in a Phase 1b trial and is currently in a Phase 2 trial for diabetic kidney disease.
Additional pipeline assets are also being developed for metabolic and fibrotic disorders. Novo Nordisk intends to investigate the potential of INV-202 for obesity and obesity-related complications.
In a statement, Martin Holst Lange, EVP for development at Novo Nordisk, said the promising class of medicine pioneered by the Inversago team could lead to “life-changing new treatment options for those living with a serious chronic disease and, in particular, may offer alternative or complementary solutions for people living with obesity.”
