Roche (RHHBY) is increasing its investment into the obesity space with an up to $5.3 billion deal with Danish drugmaker Zealand Pharma (ZLDPF), the companies announced Wednesday. The deal would give Zealand a partner to co-develop petrelintide,

Roche has signed the biggest-ever obesity drug deal with a $5.3bn licensing agreement for a next-generation treatment from Danish biotech Zealand Pharma. The Swiss pharmaceutical company will collaborate with Zealand on petrelintide,

Roche Holding AG licensed a new weight-loss drug from Zealand Pharma A/S for as much as $5.3 billion, bolstering the Swiss drugmaker’s effort to get into a hot market dominated by Novo Nordisk A/S and Eli Lilly & Co.

The companies agreed to share profits for the therapy equally in the U.S. and Europe, but Roche will have exclusive rights to commercialization in the rest of the world.