Menarini Licenses Gan & Lee’s Experimental Weight-Loss Drug for Europe
Updated 23 September 2026
What Is Happening
Chinese drugmaker Gan & Lee has licensed bofanglutide, an experimental weight-loss medicine, to Italy’s Menarini Group for 39 European countries. Gan & Lee developed the drug; Menarini will seek approval from medicines regulators and, if successful, sell it in those countries. Bofanglutide is being studied as an injection given every two weeks.
Menarini will pay Gan & Lee €62 million initially for these exclusive rights. Gan & Lee could receive a further €664 million if conditions set out in the agreement are met, plus a percentage of future sales. The announcement does not detail those conditions.
The companies describe the partnership as combining Gan & Lee’s drug-development, manufacturing and supply expertise with Menarini’s experience securing approvals and established European sales network. Gan & Lee gains a partner to bring the medicine to Europe, while Menarini gains a potential new treatment to sell without having developed it itself.
Bofanglutide is not yet approved for sale. Gan & Lee plans further international trials to support an application for European approval.
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