UBT251 is being jointly developed by TUL's wholly-owned subsidiary, The United Bio-Technology (Hengqin) Co., Ltd. (United Biotechnology) and Novo Nordisk under an agreement signed in March 2025. United Biotechnology is responsible for development in Chinese mainland, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan, while Novo Nordisk is responsible for development in the rest of the world.
The trial, conducted by United Biotechnology, investigated the safety and efficacy of once-weekly injectable 2 mg, 4 mg and 6 mg doses of UBT251 compared to placebo and semaglutide 1 mg in Chinese people with type 2 diabetes. From a baseline mean glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) of 8.12%, the highest mean HbA1c reduction observed for people treated with UBT251 was 2.16% compared to 1.77% for the semaglutide 1 mg group and 0.66% for the placebo group after 24 weeks of treatment.
From a baseline mean body weight of 80.1 kg and a mean BMI of 29.1 kg/m², the mean body weight reduction in the UBT251 groups was up to 9.8% compared with 4.8% in the semaglutide 1 mg group and 1.4% in the placebo group1.
Moreover, UBT251 showed improvements relative to placebo on key secondary endpoints, including waist circumference, blood pressure and lipids. The safety and tolerability profile of UBT251 appeared consistent with what has been observed in other clinical trials with triple-G agonists.
"The success of the phase 2 trial for UBT251 in Chinese patients with type 2 diabetes marks a significant milestone in the innovative development of TUL," remarked Mr Tsoi Hoi Shan, Chairman of TUL. "We will fully advance the phase 3 trial in China, committed to providing superior treatment options for patients worldwide."
"Following the recent positive read-out of phase 2 data in people with overweight or obesity, we are encouraged to see the results of this trial, which also demonstrate the potential of UBT251 in a type 2 diabetes population," said Martin Holst Lange, executive vice president, chief scientific officer and head of Research and Development at Novo Nordisk. "Novo Nordisk will initiate a global phase 2 trial with UBT251 in people with type 2 diabetes later this year, and we are already conducting a global phase 2 trial in weight management that will read out next year."
Novo Nordisk's recently initiated global phase 1b/2a trial is investigating the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of different doses of UBT251 for up to 28 weeks in around 330 people living with overweight or obesity. Topline data from that trial is expected in 2027. Novo Nordisk expects to initiate the global phase 2 trial with UBT251 in people with type 2 diabetes in the second half of 2026.
United Biotechnology will present detailed data from the Chinese phase 2 trial at a medical congress later this year. Based on the results of this trial, the company is planning to initiate two phase 3 trials in Chinese patients with type 2 diabetes.
About the Chinese phase 2 trial
This randomised, double-blind, placebo- and semaglutide-controlled trial enrolled a total of 211 Chinese patients with type 2 diabetes (managed with lifestyle intervention alone or in combination with metformin). At baseline, the patients had a mean HbA1c of 8.12%, a mean body weight of 80.1 kg, and a mean body mass index (BMI) of 29.1 kg/m².
Patients were randomly assigned to receive weekly subcutaneous injections of UBT251 in doses of 2 mg, 4 mg, 6 mg or placebo, or semaglutide 1 mg for 24 weeks. The primary endpoint of the trial was the change in HbA1c from baseline after 24 weeks of treatment.
About UBT251
UBT251 is a long-acting synthetic peptide triple agonist targeting the receptors for GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1), GIP (glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide) and glucagon.
In March 2025, United Biotechnology entered an exclusive license agreement with Novo Nordisk A/S for UBT251. Under the agreement, Novo Nordisk obtained exclusive worldwide rights (excluding Chinese mainland, Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan) to develop, manufacture and commercialise UBT251. United Biotechnology retained the rights for UBT251 in Chinese mainland, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan.
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About TUL and United Biotechnology
Founded in 1990, TUL (HKEX: 3933) is mainly engaged in the research and development, production and sales of pharmaceuticals, and ranks among the leading integrated pharmaceutical companies in China. TUL currently boasts eleven production bases, covering intermediate products, bulk medicine, finished products, health & wellness products, animal healthcare products, empty capsule casings, and medical devices, with the sales networks dotted across nearly 80 countries and regions. United Biotechnology, located in the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin, serves as the biopharmaceutical R&D headquarter of TUL. United Biotechnology focuses on the development of high-end biopharmaceuticals to treat major chronic diseases. For more information, please visit www.tul.com.cn.
About Novo Nordisk
Novo Nordisk is a leading global healthcare company, founded in 1923 and headquartered in Denmark. Our purpose is to drive change to defeat serious chronic diseases, built upon our heritage in diabetes. We do so by pioneering scientific breakthroughs, expanding access to our medicines, and working to prevent and ultimately cure disease. Novo Nordisk employs about 68,800 people in 80 countries and markets its products in around 170 countries. For more information, visit novonordisk.com, Facebook, Instagram, X, LinkedIn and YouTube.
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