By Tracy Qu
Pfizer has acquired exclusive rights to commercialize an obesity therapy in China in a deal worth up to $495 million.
The U.S. drugmaker reached an agreement with Hangzhou Sciwind Biosciences for ecnoglutide, a drug recently approved by Chinese regulators to treat diabetes, according to a statement posted on WeChat on Tuesday. The therapy is also under regulatory review for obesity treatment, the statement said.
The potential $495 million payment includes an upfront fee as well as regulatory and milestone payments, Sciwind said.
The collaboration with Sciwind "marks a significant milestone in accelerating Pfizer's long-term strategic footprint in the metabolic field," said Pfizer China president Jean-Christophe Pointeau in the statement.
Chinese biotech companies are increasingly partnering with overseas drugmakers. Earlier this month, Innovent Biologics announced a collaboration with Eli Lilly that includes up to $8.5 billion in milestone payments.
Write to Tracy Qu at tracy.qu@wsj.com
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
February 23, 2026 23:47 ET (04:47 GMT)
Copyright (c) 2026 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.