Madrigal Pharmaceuticals has finalized a global license agreement with CSPC Pharmaceutical Group for a preclinical oral drug to treat metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH).
The drug, SYH2086, is a small molecule glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist and orforglipron derivative. Clinical development for the drug is scheduled for the first half of 2026.
Per the deal, Madrigal will pay CSPC an upfront payment of $120 million and CSPC is eligible to receive up to $2 billion in milestone payments, as well as royalties on net sales.
The license agreement supports Madrigal’s aim of developing more combination treatments for MASH. Earlier this year, the biopharmaceutical company launched Rezdiffra, a once-daily, oral, liver-directed THR-β agonist. The drug was approved in March 2024 for the treatment of stage F2 and F3 noncirrhotic MASH with moderate to advanced liver fibrosis. Madrigal intends to combine Rezdiffra with the newly acquired oral GLP-1 in a single once-a-day pill.
The combination drug should lead to greater efficacy and tolerability, as a phase 3 trial found that weight loss of just 5% increased the antifibrotic benefit. The GLP-1 will help MASH patients with weight loss, while Rezdiffra will treat fibrosis and provide lipid reduction.