Novo Nordisk Strikes $2.1B Deal with Omeros to License Rare Disease Drug

Danes’ biotech powerhouse Novo Nordisk has agreed to pay up to $2.1 billion to license and acquire rights to Omeros’ experimental drug, zaltenibart, positioning itself for a bigger role in rare disease treatment.

Under the deal, Novo will gain global development and marketing rights to zaltenibart, while Omeros receives $340 million upfront, plus additional milestone payments tied to regulatory and commercial success. Omeros will retain rights to its other MASP-3 programs not covered by the deal.

Zaltenibart works by inhibiting MASP-3, a key protein in the body’s complement system. Overactivity in this pathway can damage red blood cells and kidneys—conditions common in complement-mediated diseases like PNH (Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria).

In early human testing, a modified kidney transplant experiment applied similar enzyme techniques to alter organ blood type before transplant, showcasing the power of enzyme therapy in complex processes. While that work is separate, it shares the same scientific ambition: direct biochemical intervention.

Market reaction was brisk—Omeros shares jumped, while Novo Nordisk’s stock moved modestly. The deal underscores Novo Nordisk’s push beyond obesity and diabetes into bioscience and immunology. Analysts note that with success, it could reshape treatment options for patients who currently have limited therapies.

Still, challenges remain. The agreement must clear regulatory approvals and prove safe and effective in larger patient trials. But for now, the move signals a bold pivot into the rare disease arena by a pharma giant known for metabolic drugs.