Zealand Pharma is the Danish biotech behind survodutide (the GLP-1/glucagon dual agonist partnered with Boehringer Ingelheim), petrelintide (the amylin analog licensed to Roche), and glepaglutide (a long-acting GLP-2 analog for short bowel syndrome). The company sits in the second tier of the obesity peptide race behind Lilly and Novo, with arguably the most differentiated combination programs.
The SYNCHRONIZE Phase 3 program for survodutide is the most consequential readout on the obesity side. Petrelintide drives much of the upside on the Roche side, with executives projecting $9 billion in peak annual sales across petrelintide, the breast-cancer pill, and four other obesity candidates as part of Roche's Q1 2026 strategy reset. Petrelintide's own Phase 3 program, ZUPREME (three trials, about 7,000 people, 64-week weight endpoint), began on September 22, 2026.
On Friday September 18, 2026, the EMA's CHMP recommended approval of Zeydovio (glepaglutide), a long-acting GLP-2 analog given twice weekly by subcutaneous injection from a single-dose autoinjector, for short bowel syndrome. In the Phase 3 EASE-1 trial of 106 patients dependent on parenteral support, two thirds of patients on glepaglutide had at least a 20% reduction in weekly parenteral support volume at 24 weeks and one in seven weaned off it entirely; twice-weekly dosing cut weekly parenteral support by 5.13 liters versus 2.85 liters on placebo. Zealand called the opinion the first major advance in short bowel syndrome treatment in Europe in more than a decade and expects a European Commission decision in about 67 days. In the U.S., the EASE-5 trial is ongoing.
Stories here cover trial readouts, partnership news, and the share-price moves that follow. See #survodutide, #petrelintide, and #glepaglutide for the lead assets.
Following the April 28 SYNCHRONIZE-1 obesity topline (16.6% weight loss at 76 weeks), Boehringer Ingelheim and Zealand Pharma confirmed that survodutide — their dual GLP-1/glucagon agonist — has two global Phase 3 MASH trials underway: LIVERAGE in adults with MASH and fibrosis stages F2 or F3, and LIVERAGE-Cirrhosis in compensated MASH cirrhosis. The Phase 3 program follows Phase 2 data showing 83% of MASH patients achieved histological improvement at 48 weeks. The MASH track positions survodutide alongside tirzepatide's SYNERGY-NASH and broader Lilly Phase 3 activity in the metabolic-liver-disease space, with full SYNCHRONIZE-1 data slated for ADA 2026 in June.
Zealand Pharma announced April 29 that it and partner Roche have formally endorsed advancing petrelintide — a long-acting amylin analog suitable for once-weekly subcutaneous administration — into Phase 3 trials for chronic weight management, with initiation planned for H2 2026. The Phase 3 program will evaluate petrelintide as monotherapy and in combination with Roche's GLP-1/GIP receptor dual agonist enicepatide (CT-388). The decision follows positive Phase 2 ZUPREME-1 data showing up to 10.7% weight loss with placebo-like tolerability; petrelintide is now positioned as the lead non-GLP-1 obesity asset behind only Novo's CagriSema.
Boehringer Ingelheim and Zealand Pharma announced positive topline results from the Phase 3 SYNCHRONIZE-1 trial of survodutide (BI 456906), a glucagon/GLP-1 dual agonist, in adults with obesity or overweight without type 2 diabetes. Adults treated with survodutide achieved 16.6% mean weight loss at 76 weeks (efficacy estimand) versus 3.2% placebo (p<0.0001), with up to 85.1% of treated adults achieving ≥5% weight reduction. Up to 39.2 lb (17.8 kg) average weight loss; initial analysis indicates predominantly fat-tissue loss with lean mass contributing only a small proportion. Full data will be presented at ADA 2026 in June.
Zealand Pharma announced a new Cambridge research hub combining 25+ years of peptide expertise with AI-driven drug discovery, expanding its obesity and metabolic health pipeline.