Novo acquires three early-stage obesity assets from Kallyope to broaden pipeline amid investor pressure

Investors have been urging Novo to expand its pipeline beyond the semaglutide franchise that drives most of its sales.

In response, Novo announced it will acquire three early-stage obesity candidates from privately held Kallyope, including a peptide called K-554 and two small-molecule programs.

K-554 is ready for an IND filing and targets biology distinct from, and potentially complementary to, GLP-1 and amylin receptor therapies. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Novo and Kallyope have collaborated since 2018 on obesity and diabetes projects, but the specifics of this latest transaction remain private.