Core Viewpoint - The global GLP-1 market is shifting, with multinational pharmaceutical companies increasingly focusing on Chinese biopharmaceutical assets, a trend expected to peak in 2025 and be confirmed in early 2026 [5] Group 1: Market Dynamics - The competition in the weight loss and metabolic disease market is evolving from single product competition to a comprehensive contest involving multiple mechanisms, indications, and long-term medication [5] - Multinational pharmaceutical companies are experiencing anxiety regarding pipeline breadth and technological reserves, with China emerging as a key source for supplementing GLP-1 pipelines [5] - Over the past decade, the role of Chinese innovative drug companies has shifted from introducing overseas technology to exporting self-developed assets [5] Group 2: Asset Development - Chinese companies have accumulated a number of candidates in the GLP-1 field, particularly in dual-target, triple-target, and oral formulations, with several in Phase II and III [5] - These assets are characterized by preliminary validation of scientific pathways and identifiable clinical risks, making them valuable for multinational companies to quickly fill their pipelines through licensing or acquisition [5] Group 3: Transaction Highlights - Novo Nordisk made a significant move by securing rights to a triple-target agonist, UBT251, with a payment structure of $200 million upfront and up to $1.8 billion in milestone payments, reflecting a strategic choice to rebuild its next-generation weight loss product lineup [7] - Regeneron entered a licensing agreement with Hansoh Pharma worth over $2 billion for a GLP-1/GIP dual-target agonist in Phase III, aiming to strengthen its position in the metabolic disease field [7] - Pfizer, after terminating two late-stage oral GLP-1 candidates due to safety issues, acquired Metsera for nearly $10 billion and entered a licensing agreement with YaoPharma for an early-stage oral GLP-1 candidate, demonstrating a cautious approach to re-entering the oral weight loss drug market [7] Group 4: Strategic Implications - These transactions signal that multinational pharmaceutical companies are preparing for the second phase of competition in the GLP-1 market, focusing on efficacy limits, medication convenience, long-term safety, and combination therapy potential [8] - The shift indicates a structural adjustment in the global pharmaceutical industry, with China transitioning from merely a clinical trial and production base to a significant technology supplier in key therapeutic areas [8]