Client Novo Nordisk Announces License Agreement with United Laboratories for Weight-Loss and Diabetes Drug in Deal Valued at Up to $2 Billion

In The News
March 25, 2025

Ropes & Gray advised Novo Nordisk in an exclusive license agreement with China-based United Laboratories International Holdings Limited and its wholly-owned subsidiary United Bio-Technology (Hengqin) Co. Ltd. for the rights to United Biotechnology’s UBT251, a drug in clinical development for the treatment of Type 2 diabetes, obesity and other diseases. The transaction was announced on March 24.

Under the license agreement, United Biotechnology will retain the rights for UBT251 in the Chinese mainland, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan. Novo Nordisk will be granted exclusive rights to develop, manufacture and commercialize the drug elsewhere. United Biotechnology is eligible to receive an upfront payment of $200 million and potential milestone payments up to $1.8 billion from Novo Nordisk, as well as tiered royalties on net sales outside of the retained territories.

The Ropes & Gray team included life sciences licensing partner Hannah England and life sciences licensing associate Ryan Kramer.