Boehringer Ingelheim and Zealand Pharma Advance to Phase 2 Clinical Testing in NASH and Obesity
13.4.2021 15:00:00 EEST | Business Wire | Press release
Boehringer Ingelheim and Zealand Pharma A/S (“Zealand”) (NASDAQ: ZEAL) announced the initiation of two Phase 2 trials of the GLP-1/glucagon dual agonist BI 456906 for adults who are overweight or obese and for adults with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). The compound was in-licensed from Zealand in 2011 and is being investigated in an ongoing Phase 2 study in people with type 2 diabetes mellitus. The once-weekly therapy may offer additional benefits on both chronic weight management, and NASH improvement and prevention of the progression to cirrhosis compared to currently available treatments with mono GLP-1 agonist compounds. BI 456906 is part of Boehringer Ingelheim’s growing portfolio in the obesity and NASH disease areas.
“Obesity and NASH are areas of high unmet medical need, with limited approved treatments currently available. They are associated with lower quality of life and increased mortality,” explains Prof. Arun J. Sanyal, Professor of Medicine, Physiology and Molecular Pathology at Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine in Richmond, Virginia. “I hope that this new approach will bring a much-needed treatment option for HCPs and people afflicted with obesity or NASH.”
Boehringer Ingelheim and Zealand have a fruitful longstanding partnership, bringing together Zealand’s expertise in the discovery of innovative peptide-based medicines with Boehringer Ingelheim’s expertise in the research and development of novel medicines for cardiometabolic diseases. “We are very excited to see the initiation of Phase 2 trials of BI 456906 for obesity and NASH,” said Adam Steensberg, Executive Vice President and Chief Medical Officer at Zealand Pharma. “By combining GLP-1 and glucagon agonism mechanistically, we believe our dual agonist has the potential to achieve increased weight loss, via improvement of the patient’s metabolism, and also has potential to alleviate NASH by reducing upstream steatosis.”
“Our cardiometabolic research and development is focusing on discovering novel treatments for obesity and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), to meet the large unmet need among these groups,” explains Waheed Jamal, MD, Head of Cardiovascular, Metabolic and Respiratory Medicine at Boehringer Ingelheim. “We are exploring a number of unique approaches with great potential to help people living with obesity or NASH. We believe dual agonists are next generation drug candidates with a potential for higher efficacy in weight loss and NASH improvement/cirrhosis prevention.”
Under the terms of the GLP-1/glucagon dual agonist licensing agreement, Boehringer Ingelheim funds all research, development and commercialization activities. Zealand is entitled to receive up to EUR 345 million in outstanding milestone payments. No milestone payments are due with the initiations of these Phase 2 studies. The agreement also carries high-single digit to low-double digit percentage royalties on global sales.
Please click on the following link for ‘Notes to Editors’ and ‘References’:
http://www.boehringer-ingelheim.com/press-release/clinical-phase2-trials-nash-and-obesity
To view this piece of content from cts.businesswire.com, please give your consent at the top of this page.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210413005636/en/
Contact information
Boehringer Ingelheim
Dr. Birgit Leimer
Product Communications Manager
Boehringer Ingelheim Corporate Center GmbH
Media + PR
E-Mail: press@boehringer-ingelheim.com
Zealand Pharma
David Rosen
Argot Partners
E-Mail: media@zealandpharma.com
About Business Wire
For more than 50 years, Business Wire has been the global leader in press release distribution and regulatory disclosure.
Subscribe to releases from Business Wire
Subscribe to all the latest releases from Business Wire by registering your e-mail address below. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Latest releases from Business Wire
iQmetrix to Showcase Intelligent Commerce Operating System and Catalyst Innovation at DTW Ignite 20266.5.2026 20:20:00 EEST | Press release
iQmetrix, the Intelligent Commerce Operating System for telecom, announced today it will exhibit, speak, and compete as a bronze sponsor at DTW Ignite 2026 in Copenhagen from June 23–25. The company will deliver a live product demo in The Loft, showcase its ODA PRISM Catalyst project alongside a consortium of global operators and technology partners, and exhibit at Booth #317 throughout the event. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260506948390/en/ The debut marks a milestone in iQmetrix’s global growth strategy and deepens its partnership with TM Forum, following its recent recognition as an ODA Component Directory Partner. The Future of Commerce Is Won at the Orchestration Layer DTW Ignite 2026’s theme, “The Future. Faster.,” captures the urgency facing communications service providers worldwide. Telcos have spent decades building world-class networks that consumers increasingly take for granted, yet that inves
Go Beyond the Guidebook: Why Ireland Rewards Those Who Slow Down6.5.2026 19:15:00 EEST | Press release
In a world where travel often feels rushed and driven by checklists, Ireland stands apart. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260501313521/en/ Lusty Beg Island Kesh, Co. Fermanagh The destination offers something deeper, drawing visitors beyond the expected toward richer encounters with its landscapes, culture and communities. As a compact island, Ireland gives holiday makers the chance to take in much of the destination while still travelling at a relaxed, unhurried pace. It’s a chance to slow down, not to do less, but to feel more - more calm, more connection, and more of what makes travel meaningful. This approach to travel is matched by Ireland’s natural warmth and welcome, helping visitors feel at home from the moment they arrive. Take the scenic route From the rugged coastline of the Wild Atlantic Way, one of the world’s longest coastal routes, to the rolling landscapes of Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands, Irela
TACTICA AI Introduces Region’s First AI Platform for Mission-Critical, Real-Time Operational Decisions6.5.2026 18:18:00 EEST | Press release
TACTICA AI, an Abu Dhabi-based start-up, today introduced its multi-domain decision-support platform to a wider market during Make it in the Emirates 2026. At a time of increasing operational complexity and pressure to make faster, better-informed decisions, the platform is designed to transform fragmented intelligence, sensor, and operational data into real-time decisions. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260506006177/en/ TACTICA AI Introduces Region’s First AI Platform for Mission-Critical, Real-Time Operational Decisions (Photo: AETOSWire) Already active in operational environments, TACTICA AI is believed to be the first publicly known platform of its type developed in the region, creating a new category of operational AI that goes beyond dashboards, data feeds, and analytics tools to support decision-making at the mission layer. The underlying technology was developed by the Technology Innovation Institute
FlightSafety International Receives FAA Approval for Virtual Aircraft Preflight Inspection with Evaluation Mode6.5.2026 17:05:00 EEST | Press release
FlightSafety International Inc., the global leader in aviation training and simulation technology, today announced it has received Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) approval for Virtual Aircraft Preflight Inspection (VAPI) with Evaluation Mode for three aircraft training programs: the Embraer EMB-550, Gulfstream G500/G600, and Citation Latitude. This innovative capability allows pilots in initial training to complete a 3D virtual aircraft preflight inspection while in Training Mode, with the added ability to transition directly into the flight deck, followed by Evaluation Mode, that allows pilots to do their preflight check ride portion. “VAPI represents a meaningful advancement in training innovation,” said David Penney, VP of Safety, Courseware and Regulatory Affairs, FlightSafety International. “By leveraging an immersive 3D environment, it offers pilots a more engaging and practical way to develop aircraft familiarity, strengthen inspection discipline, and better prepare for re
Riskified Unveils Next-Generation AI Suite at Ascend 2026, Empowering Merchants with Unprecedented Visibility and Control Over Ecommerce Risk6.5.2026 16:00:00 EEST | Press release
Riskified (NYSE: RSKD), a global leader in ecommerce fraud and risk intelligence, today announced a major leap forward in its AI platform capabilities, introducing a powerful suite of control and empowerment tools designed to give merchant fraud teams complete visibility into risk patterns and identity behavior, conversational AI-driven insights, and the ability to surgically tailor their risk strategies. The innovation suite was announced onstage at Ascend 2026, Riskified’s premier global summit series, taking place May 4-6, 2026, at the Conrad New York Downtown in Manhattan, NY. With global ecommerce continuing to expand and losses from AI-driven fraud attacks projected to spike, particularly with the rise of agentic commerce, where AI bots may conduct transactions on behalf of consumers, accurate fraud decisions are fundamental, but are no longer enough. Today, more than ever, sophisticated fraud and risk teams need to understand the why behind every transaction and pattern, and req
In our pressroom you can read all our latest releases, find our press contacts, images, documents and other relevant information about us.
Visit our pressroom