Novo signs $1.4 billion deal with Orbis Medicines to develop oral macrocycle cardiometabolic drugs

Novo, which recently rebranded from Novo Nordisk, announced a partnership with Copenhagen‑based Orbis Medicines. The agreement could provide up to $1.4 billion in upfront payments and milestone payouts as the two companies work on next‑generation oral macrocycle therapies for cardiometabolic disease.

The collaboration will focus on high‑value targets within the cardiometabolic space, although the exact proteins or pathways have not been disclosed. Both parties said the goal is to create orally bioavailable macrocycle drugs that can address unmet medical needs.

Novo will also make a strategic equity investment in Orbis, a biotech that was founded by Novo Holding, Novo’s controlling shareholder. Since 2024, Orbis has raised €116 million, including a Series A round supported by Eli Lilly’s venture capital arm.

The deal marks Orbis’s first partnership with a major pharmaceutical company and reflects Novo’s broader effort to refresh its cardiometabolic pipeline through innovative drug platforms.