Amneal and Metsera Announce Strategic Collaboration to Develop and Supply Portfolio of Next-Generation Medicines for Obesity and Metabolic Diseases

Rhea-AI Summary

Amneal Pharmaceuticals (AMRX) and Metsera have announced a strategic collaboration to develop and supply next-generation medicines for obesity and metabolic diseases. Key points include:

1. Amneal will construct new manufacturing facilities in India for peptide synthesis and sterile fill-finish, with a net cost of $150-200 million over 4-5 years.

2. Metsera is advancing a portfolio of therapies, including ultra-long acting injectable and oral nutrient stimulated hormone (NuSH) analogs.

3. Amneal will be Metsera's preferred supply partner for developed markets and gain commercialization rights in select emerging markets.

4. The collaboration aims to deliver weight loss medicines at scale, leveraging Amneal's manufacturing expertise and Metsera's innovative drug portfolio.

Positive

• Strategic entry into the rapidly growing global obesity market
• Access to Metsera's portfolio of next-generation weight loss therapies
• Construction of new state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities in India
• Commercialization rights in select emerging markets
• Leveraging Amneal's existing manufacturing network and expertise

Negative

• Significant capital expenditure of $150-200 million over 4-5 years for new facilities

Insights

Financial Analyst

This strategic collaboration between Amneal and Metsera marks a significant move for Amneal into the rapidly growing obesity and metabolic disease market. The deal positions Amneal to leverage its manufacturing expertise in a high-growth sector, potentially driving substantial long-term value creation.

Key financial implications include:

• Amneal's investment of $150-200 million over 4-5 years for new manufacturing facilities in India, partially offset by Metsera contributions and government incentives.
• Access to a lucrative market: The global obesity market is experiencing rapid growth, presenting a significant revenue opportunity.
• Diversification of Amneal's portfolio into high-value biologics, potentially improving profit margins.
• Licensing rights for select emerging markets, opening new revenue streams.

While the upfront costs are substantial, the long-term potential for revenue growth and market expansion makes this a strategically sound move for Amneal, potentially transforming its business model and growth trajectory.

Pharmaceutical Industry Expert

This collaboration is a strategic masterstroke for both Amneal and Metsera. For Amneal, it represents a pivotal entry into the booming GLP-1 and obesity treatment market, leveraging its core strengths in complex manufacturing. The deal provides:

• Access to Metsera's innovative pipeline, including the promising MET-097 GLP-1 agonist
• Expansion into biologics manufacturing, enhancing Amneal's capabilities beyond small molecules
• Potential for first-mover advantage in next-generation obesity treatments

For Metsera, the partnership secures important manufacturing capabilities, accelerating its path to market. The collaboration's focus on both injectable and oral formulations is particularly noteworthy, as it addresses the growing demand for more convenient administration of these therapies. This deal could significantly alter the competitive landscape in the obesity treatment market, potentially challenging established players like Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly.

Amneal to construct state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities and utilize existing manufacturing network to ensure supply of Metsera’s portfolio of novel injectable and oral development programs, including GLP-1 and amylin receptor agonists

Agreement provides Amneal with a new high-growth vector to drive long-term value creation

Metsera gains high-quality, efficient, large-scale manufacturing capabilities for its portfolio to enable rapid product development and anticipated commercial launches

BRIDGEWATER, N.J. & NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Amneal Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: AMRX) (“Amneal” or the “Company”), a global pharmaceutical company, and Metsera, Inc. (“Metsera”), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company accelerating the next generation of medicines for obesity and metabolic diseases, today announced that they have entered into a collaboration agreement to enable the efficient development and large-scale supply of a portfolio of new weight loss medicines globally.

The collaboration positions Amneal and Metsera to deliver weight loss and metabolic disease medicines at scale. Among other compelling aspects of the collaboration, it is important to know that:

• Metsera is advancing a portfolio of next-generation therapies for obesity and metabolic diseases, including ultra-long acting injectable and oral nutrient stimulated hormone (NuSH) analogs and combinations designed with best-in-class profiles. With a library of over 20,000 NuSH peptide analogs and peptide/antibody conjugates, Metsera aims to address the increasing demand and future needs of the highly dynamic global obesity and diabetes landscape across a broad range of modalities.

• Metsera recently announced highly competitive results from the Phase 1 clinical trial of its glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist injectable, MET-097. The randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind Phase 1 trial demonstrated that MET-097 achieved significant and durable weight loss. MET-097 is expected to be the first drug manufactured under Amneal and Metsera’s collaboration.

• Amneal has leading global product development and manufacturing capabilities, including in-house API and sterile fill-finish manufacturing, which complement Metsera’s offerings. Amneal has deep expertise in complex pharmaceutical manufacturing and a strong track record of delivering quality and innovation at scale, which includes developing, manufacturing and distributing a diverse portfolio of over 280 pharmaceutical products.

• Amneal is expediting its entry into the rapidly growing global obesity market while leveraging its core competencies: science-driven product development, high-quality and cost-effective manufacturing, and the ability to rapidly scale-up and execute.

Under the terms of the agreement, Amneal will serve as Metsera’s preferred supply partner for developed markets, including the United States and Europe. Amneal will also be granted a license to commercialize Metsera’s products in select emerging markets, including India and certain countries in Southeast Asia, Africa and the Middle East.

Amneal will construct two new greenfield manufacturing facilities in India, one for peptide synthesis and one for sterile fill-finish manufacturing. The new site, which will house both facilities, is expected to break ground later this year, with a total net cost to Amneal of between $150 million and $200 million over the next four to five years, net of contributions from Metsera and government incentives. Additionally, Amneal will support Metsera with certain product development activities, including drug substance manufacturing, product formulation and drug-device development.

“GLP-1s and other breakthrough obesity therapies have significant and wide-ranging health benefits for patients. Amneal is deeply committed to providing access to high-quality, affordable and essential medicines, including those in new categories. Through this strategic collaboration, we have the opportunity to extend our mission to a new portfolio of injectable and oral weight loss therapies. We are excited to work with Metsera and apply Amneal’s deep expertise in complex pharmaceutical manufacturing to bring these programs to market,” said Chirag and Chintu Patel, Co-Chief Executive Officers of Amneal.

Whit Bernard, Chief Executive Officer of Metsera, said, “With this collaboration, we have secured high-quality development and commercial scale capacity for our broad portfolio of ultra-long-acting injectable and oral NuSH analogs. Collaborating with Amneal brings dedicated access to unique capabilities and capacity not typically available to biotech firms at an early stage. These comprise access to Amneal’s drug substance manufacturing, product formulation and drug-device development capabilities, including its in-house API and sterile fill-finish, through both established and new state-of-the-art facilities.”

About Amneal

Amneal Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: AMRX), headquartered in Bridgewater, NJ, is a global pharmaceutical company. We make healthy possible through the development, manufacturing, and distribution of a diverse portfolio of over 280 pharmaceutical products, primarily within the United States. In its Generics segment, the Company is expanding across a broad range of complex product categories and therapeutic areas, including injectables and biosimilars. In its Specialty segment, Amneal has a growing portfolio of branded pharmaceuticals focused primarily on central nervous system and endocrine disorders, with a pipeline focused on unmet needs. Through its AvKARE segment, the Company is a distributor of pharmaceuticals and other products for the U.S. federal government, retail, and institutional markets. For more information, please visit www.amneal.com.

About Metsera

Metsera is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company accelerating the next generation of medicines for obesity and metabolic diseases. Metsera is advancing a broad portfolio of injectable and oral nutrient-stimulated hormone analogs (incretins and non-incretins, including combinations with potential best-in-class profiles to address multiple weight loss targets and meet the future needs of a rapidly evolving commercial landscape. Founded in 2022 by Population Health Partners and ARCH Venture Partners, Metsera is based in New York City. For more information, please visit us at www.metsera.com and follow us on LinkedIn.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements contained herein, regarding matters that are not historical facts, may be forward-looking statements (as defined in the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995). Such forward-looking statements include statements regarding management’s intentions, plans, beliefs, expectations, financial results, or forecasts for the future, including among other things: discussions of future operations; expected or estimated operating results and financial performance; and statements regarding our positioning, including our ability to drive sustainable long-term growth, and other non-historical statements. Words such as “plans,” “expects,” “will,” “anticipates,” “estimates,” and similar words, or the negatives thereof, are intended to identify estimates and forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements contained herein are also subject generally to other risks and uncertainties that are described from time to time in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including under Item 1A, “Risk Factors” in the Company’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and in its subsequent reports on Forms 10-Q and 8-K. Forward-looking statements included herein speak only as of the date hereof and we undertake no obligation to revise or update such statements to reflect the occurrence of events or circumstances after the date hereof.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241001563651/en/

Amneal Contact

Anthony DiMeo

VP, Investor Relations

anthony.dimeo@amneal.com



Metsera Contact

Dan Budwick

1AB

dan@1abmedia.com

Source: Amneal Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

FAQ

What is the purpose of the collaboration between Amneal (AMRX) and Metsera?

The collaboration aims to develop and supply a portfolio of next-generation medicines for obesity and metabolic diseases globally, leveraging Amneal's manufacturing capabilities and Metsera's innovative drug portfolio.

What new facilities will Amneal (AMRX) construct as part of this collaboration?

Amneal will construct two new greenfield manufacturing facilities in India: one for peptide synthesis and one for sterile fill-finish manufacturing.

How much will Amneal (AMRX) invest in the new manufacturing facilities?

Amneal expects to invest between $150 million and $200 million over the next four to five years, net of contributions from Metsera and government incentives.

What markets will Amneal (AMRX) have rights to commercialize Metsera's products?

Amneal will have commercialization rights in select emerging markets, including India and certain countries in Southeast Asia, Africa, and the Middle East.

What type of therapies is Metsera developing in collaboration with Amneal (AMRX)?

Metsera is developing ultra-long acting injectable and oral nutrient stimulated hormone (NuSH) analogs and combinations for obesity and metabolic diseases.