Pfizer Secures Up to $1.5 Billion From Blackstone Life Sciences to Fund Monthly GLP-1 Obesity Drug Berobenatide Through 2028
NEW YORK and CAMBRIDGE, Massachusetts — Pfizer Inc. and Blackstone Life Sciences announced a strategic co-funding agreement on November 11 under which funds managed by Blackstone will pay up to $1.5 billion of development costs through 2028 for berobenatide, Pfizer's investigational monthly GLP-1 receptor agonist.
Berobenatide (PF'3944) is a potential first-in-class monthly GLP-1 receptor agonist peptide being studied for chronic weight management and obesity-related conditions, including knee osteoarthritis and obstructive sleep apnea. In exchange for the funding, Blackstone will be eligible to receive milestone-based payments, subject to U.S. regulatory approval of monthly dosing of injectable berobenatide monotherapy for chronic weight management and the achievement of certain commercial sales milestones.
The companies stressed that Blackstone does not acquire any rights or ownership in berobenatide, and that Pfizer retains full operational control and decision-making over the program. Funds managed by Blackstone's perpetual private equity strategy BXPE will invest alongside Blackstone Life Sciences funds in the transaction.
Pfizer said it plans to advance more than 20 trials for obesity and related comorbidities in 2026, including 10 ongoing and planned Phase 3 trials for berobenatide.
(Source: Pfizer)
Source: Pfizer
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：位于纽约的辉瑞全球总部入口。照片：Coolcaesar 摄，CC BY-SA 4.0，经 Wikimedia Commons。 / Photo: Entrance to Pfizer's world headquarters in New York. Photo by Coolcaesar, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
