Novo Nordisk Adds More Weight to Its Weight Loss Portfolio With Inversago $1B Acquisition

Novo Nordisk A/S NVO agreed to buy Canada's Inversago Pharma, a metabolic disorders specialist focusing on developing peripherally acting CB1 receptor (CB1r) blocker therapies, for up to $1.075 billion.

The investment in Inversago comes as Novo Nordisk reported obesity sales that grew 157% in the first half of the year to more than DKK 18 billion ($2.7 billion), despite production capacity constraints that have held up the rollout of Wegovy (semaglutide), a sought-after weekly injectable for weight loss.

Inversago's lead development asset INV-202 is an oral CB1 inverse agonist.

"We believe this combination will help unlock the full medical potential of our CB1 blockers and may one day expand treatment options for people living with metabolic syndrome, obesity, and related complications," said Inversago CEO François Ravenelle.

INV-202 is designed to preferentially block the receptor protein CB1 – which plays an essential role in metabolism and appetite regulation – in peripheral tissues such as adipose tissues, the gastrointestinal tract, the kidneys, the liver, the pancreas, muscles, and lungs.

INV-202 demonstrated weight loss potential in the 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.

Recently, Novo Nordisk released the headline results from the SELECT cardiovascular outcomes trial, better than the 15-17% expected by investors and analysts.

Semaglutide 2.4 mg showed a 20% reduction in major adverse cardiovascular events (like stroke) for up to five years. 

Price Action: NVO shares are down 0.95% at $185.79 on the last check Thursday.