REG - IP Group PLC - Potential income from Metsera obesity drugs

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RNS Number : 0730D  IP Group PLC  13 October 2025

 FOR RELEASE ON  13 October 2025

 

Update on potential future royalty income from Metsera obesity drug candidates

 

IP Group plc (LSE: IPO) ("IP Group" or "the Group"), which invests in
breakthrough science and innovation companies with the potential to create a
better future for all, is pleased to provide the following update on potential
future revenue from certain obesity drug candidates that are currently being
developed by Metsera, Inc ("Metsera").

 

Pfizer, Inc. and Metsera announced on 22 September that they had reached a
definitive agreement for Pfizer to acquire Metsera and its next-generation
obesity portfolio. The transaction valued the business at up to $7.3bn,
including $4.9bn in upfront cash. Metsera has a portfolio of promising
therapeutic candidates and combinations with four programmes in clinical
development and several next-generation programmes with IND-enabling studies
ongoing, aimed at addressing key unmet needs via fewer injections while
achieving improved efficacy and tolerability.

 

As noted in IP Group's 2025 half-yearly results, the Group benefits from
financial exposure to a number of Metsera's obesity drug programmes following
Metsera's acquisition of former IP Group portfolio company Zihipp in 2023. IP
Group owns and exclusively licenses to Zihipp certain underlying IP relating
to Metsera's programmes including its lead product MET-097i as well as
MET-233, MET-034 and MET-067. IP Group is entitled to receive future returns
from these compounds through a combination of technical and commercial
milestone payments, as well as tiered, low-single digit percentage royalties
on net sales of the licensed products. 50% of all monies received by the Group
from Metsera is payable to Imperial College London under revenue share
arrangements. It should be noted that any future royalties remain subject to
the eventual approval and launch of new drugs based on the licensed compounds,
which is not certain.

 

On 29 September, Metsera announced positive Phase 2b results for the most
advanced of its programmes, its GLP-1 therapeutic candidate (MET-097i), for
which it intends to initiate a global Phase 3 programme in late 2025. MET-097i
could potentially be best-in-class in a new generation of injectable GLP-1
drugs, requiring injections only once per month instead of weekly, with the
potential to deliver competitive efficacy with category-leading scalability,
tolerability, and convenience.

 

Greg Smith, Chief Executive of IP Group, said: "We are encouraged by Metsera's
Phase 2b results for MET‑097i and its plans to initiate Phase 3 in 2025.
Obesity is a global health challenge and Metsera's next generation programmes
could ease pressure on healthcare systems with fewer injections and better
tolerability. As Metsera advances its portfolio, IP Group's shareholders are
positioned to benefit, primarily through sustainable royalty income, should
these therapies achieve approval and commercial momentum."

 

Background

 

The Zihipp drug candidate that became MET-097i was invented by Professor Steve
Bloom, a globally renowned researcher from Imperial's Department of
Metabolism, Digestion & Reproduction, whose 1996 discovery that GLP-1 has
an effect on appetite sparked the revolution in obesity treatment using GLP-1
drugs. Professor Bloom's body of research was refined in conjunction with IP
Group, in its capacity as Imperial College London's commercialisation partner,
prior to being spun out into Zihipp.

 

Zihipp is a company developing obesity drugs that was spun out of Imperial
College London. IP Group had a 31% shareholding in Zihipp at the time of its
acquisition by Metsera in 2023. IP Group is entitled to upfront, deferred and
contingent payments under the share purchase agreement with Metsera. Further,
as the licensor under the exclusive license agreement with Zihipp, which was
acquired by Metsera as part of the acquisition, IP Group is also entitled to
milestone payments, annual fees, patent cost reimbursement and tiered,
low-single digit percentage royalties on net sales of the licensed products.
All proceeds received by IP Group are subject to a 50/50 revenue sharing
arrangement with Imperial College London after deduction of any third-party
share and relevant costs.

 

For more information, please contact:

 

 IP Group plc                       www.ipgroupplc.com
 Liz Vaughan-Adams, Communications  +44 (0) 20 7444 0062/+44 (0) 7967 312125
 Portland
 Alex Donaldson                     +44 (0) 7516 729702

 

Notes for editors

 

About IP Group

 

IP Group accelerates the impact of science for a better future. As the most
active UK based, early stage science investor, we develop and support some of
the world's most exciting businesses in deeptech, life sciences and cleantech.
Through Parkwalk, the UK's largest growth EIS fund manager, we also back
world-changing innovation emerging in leading universities and research
institutions. Our specialist investment team combines sector expertise with an
international approach. Together we have a strong track record of success,
having backed high-profile companies including Oxford Nanopore Technologies
plc, Featurespace, First Light Fusion, Hysata, and Oxa. IP Group is listed on
the Main Market of the London Stock Exchange under the code IPO. For more
information, please visit our website at www.ipgroupplc.com
(http://www.ipgroupplc.com/) .

 

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