Strategic Collaboration to Expand Cardiometabolic Pipeline
Global Pharmaceutical Company Licenses Development of Potential Weight Management Therapy
On December 9, 2025, a major pharmaceutical corporation based in New York announced it had entered into an exclusive global collaboration and license agreement with YaoPharma, a subsidiary of Shanghai Fosun Pharmaceutical (Group) Co., Limited.
The agreement focuses on the development, manufacturing, and commercialization of YP05002. YP05002 is a small molecule that acts as a glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist, currently in Phase 1 trials for chronic weight management.
Under the disclosed terms, YaoPharma will complete the ongoing Phase 1 clinical trial for YP05002. Following this, the major pharmaceutical company will be granted an exclusive license to further develop, manufacture, and commercialize this drug candidate globally.
Financially, YaoPharma will receive an upfront payment of $150 million. Additionally, the company is eligible to receive milestone payments associated with development, regulatory, and commercial achievements, totaling up to $1.935 billion, along with tiered royalties on sales if the product is approved.
This action reinforces the pharmaceutical group’s efforts to advance investigational medicines for cardiometabolic diseases. A senior executive emphasized that cardiometabolic research is a strategic priority with the potential to be a key driver of growth for the business.
Future plans for the corporation include conducting combination studies of YP05002 with their glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide receptor (GIPR) antagonist candidate, currently in Phase 2, as well as with other small molecules within its development pipeline.
