Zealand Pharma and OTR Therapeutics Launch Collaboration on Metabolic Drugs

Zealand Pharma and OTR Therapeutics have entered into a multi-program strategic collaboration and licensing partnership aimed at discovering and developing a new generation of therapeutics for metabolic diseases. The agreement brings together two biotechnology companies with complementary strengths and a shared focus on advancing treatments for conditions such as obesity, overweight, and other metabolic disorders that affect hundreds of millions of people worldwide.

Under the collaboration, Zealand Pharma will leverage its established expertise in metabolic health and peptide-based drug discovery, while OTR Therapeutics will contribute its proprietary research and development platform, which is designed for speed, efficiency, and high-quality execution. OTR’s platform is also supported by strong regional R&D networks, providing access to infrastructure and scientific capabilities that enhance early-stage innovation.

The partnership marks a strategic expansion for Zealand Pharma, which is increasingly investing in oral small-molecule therapeutics as part of a broader evolution of its metabolic health pipeline. The company said the collaboration aligns closely with its updated corporate strategy, which focuses on building what it calls the world’s most valuable pipeline in metabolic diseases. Zealand plans to present further details on this long-term vision at its Capital Markets Day event.

“We are excited to partner with OTR Therapeutics,” said Utpal Singh, Ph.D., Chief Scientific Officer at Zealand Pharma. “The multi-program collaboration will expand our metabolic health pipeline into oral small-molecule therapeutics for targets where we have deep biological expertise, complementing our strong peptide R&D platform.” Singh noted that the partnership represents an early milestone in the company’s new strategic direction, emphasizing its commitment to broadening treatment options for people living with obesity and other metabolic diseases.

OTR Therapeutics, which focuses on advancing early-stage scientific breakthroughs into impactful therapies, described the collaboration as a key validation of its platform and capabilities. “We are thrilled to partner with Zealand Pharma, a company renowned for its legacy and expertise in metabolic diseases,” said Zhui Chen, Ph.D., Founder and CEO of OTR Therapeutics. He added that the agreement “represents a strong endorsement of our proprietary platform and strategic vision,” highlighting OTR’s ability to innovate rapidly while maintaining rigorous scientific quality.

By combining Zealand’s biological insights and clinical development experience with OTR’s discovery engine, the companies aim to create next-generation therapeutics that go beyond currently available metabolic treatments. As rates of obesity and metabolic disorders continue to climb globally, the need for more effective, diverse, and accessible therapies is growing. Both companies emphasized that the collaboration is intended to accelerate progress toward meaningful solutions for patients who often face limited or insufficient options.

While financial details of the agreement were not disclosed, the multi-program structure signals a long-term commitment and the potential for multiple drug candidates to emerge from the partnership. The companies believe the collaboration will help address some of the most pressing and widespread unmet needs in metabolic health and could lead to treatments capable of transforming clinical outcomes for millions worldwide.