HQ Team
June 11, 2025: Denmark’s Novo Nordisk A/S and US-based Deep Apple Therapeutics Inc. signed an $812 million agreement to develop an oral small molecule targeting cardiometabolic diseases, such as obesity.
The companies will mutually commercialise the medicine directed at a non-incretin target, which works in a different way than current treatments.
“Small molecule” refers to the type of drug that is chemically smaller and can easily enter cells to work inside the body.
Pills are generally more convenient than injections or infusions, as they lead to better patient compliance and easier long-term treatment. Small molecules are stable, cost-effective to produce, and can be designed to target specific proteins in the body with fewer side effects
Novo Nordisk will have the exclusive rights to sell and market this new pill worldwide once it is ready. No other company can sell this particular medicine without their permission.
G-Protein Coupled Receptor
The non-incretin target GPCR stands for G-Protein Coupled Receptor, which is a type of protein in the body that helps cells respond to signals. These cell surface receptors act like an inbox for messages in the form of light energy, peptides, lipids, sugars, and proteins.
Non-incretin works differently from the well-known incretin hormones that affect blood sugar.
Under the terms of the agreement, Deep Apple will discover and optimise compounds using its proprietary drug discovery platform, according to a statement.
The platform combines machine-learning-powered virtual screening with structural biology enabled by cryo-electron microscopy to improve speed, quality, and novelty in lead generation and optimisation.
Most current drugs for cardiometabolic diseases work through known pathways, like incretin hormones that regulate insulin and appetite.
Reduce healthcare costs
The new drug targets a different protein in the body, which might help treat obesity and heart-related conditions in a new, potentially more effective way.
Similar drugs from Novo Nordisk have shown they can reduce the risk of heart attacks and strokes by about 20% in overweight people, which is a big deal for public health.
More effective and convenient treatments can reduce hospital visits, complications, and healthcare costs, improving quality of life for patients.
Both companies will collaborate on the research plan, with program handoff to Novo Nordisk occurring immediately before the start of IND-enabling studies, according to the statement.
Deep Apple is eligible to receive an upfront payment, research costs, and milestone payments from Novo Nordisk.
Deep Apple platform
“This program highlights our platform capabilities in identifying potent, novel leads within months, and the partnership with Novo Nordisk will enable us to advance a first-in-class non-incretin program for cardiometabolic diseases,” said Spiros Liras, PhD, CEO of Deep Apple.
Novo Nordisk is developing a range of potential oral medicines for cardiometabolic diseases across modalities and targets, “as we know that people living with these diseases have different needs and preferences,” said Jacob Sten Petersen, Senior Vice President, Diabetes, Obesity and MASH therapeutic area at Novo Nordisk.
