Novo Nordisk's licensed triple agonist UBT251 shows 19.7% weight loss in Chinese Phase 2

Novo Nordisk and Chinese partner The United Laboratories (TUL) announced topline results on 24 February 2026 from a Phase 2 trial in China of UBT251, an experimental once-weekly injection that activates three hormone receptors at once: GLP-1, GIP and glucagon ^[1]. The highest mean weight loss was 19.7% after 24 weeks of treatment, compared with 2.0% for placebo ^[1].

The trial was randomized, double-blind and placebo-controlled, and enrolled 205 Chinese patients ^[1]. Participants had obesity (BMI of 28.0 kg/m² or higher) or overweight (BMI between 24.0 and 28.0 kg/m²) with at least one weight-related health condition ^[1]. Average starting body weight was 92.2 kg and average starting BMI was 33.1 kg/m² ^[1]. People were assigned to weekly injections of UBT251 at 2 mg, 4 mg or 6 mg, or to placebo, for 24 weeks ^[1]. The main measure was percent change in body weight from the start of the study ^[1].

In absolute terms, the top result was a mean loss of 17.5 kg, versus 1.6 kg on placebo ^[1]. That figure is based on what the companies call the efficacy estimand under the trial protocol, meaning it reflects results regardless of dose changes ^[1]. All UBT251 dose groups also showed statistically significant improvements versus placebo on secondary measures including waist circumference, blood glucose, blood pressure and lipids ^[1].

On safety, the companies said UBT251 "appeared to have a safe and well-tolerated profile," with the most common side effects being gastrointestinal ^[1]. The release says the vast majority were mild to moderate and eased over time, consistent with other incretin-based drugs ^[1]. The press release does not give specific rates of nausea, vomiting or study discontinuation; those details are not yet public. United Biotechnology plans to present the full data at a medical congress later this year ^[1].

How UBT251 fits into the race

UBT251 is a long-acting synthetic peptide being jointly developed by TUL's subsidiary United Biotechnology and Novo Nordisk under a deal signed in March 2025 ^[1]. United Biotechnology handles development in mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan; Novo Nordisk holds exclusive rights to develop, manufacture and sell the drug in the rest of the world, including the United States ^[1].

The triple-agonist approach adds glucagon to the GLP-1 and GIP targets already used by tirzepatide (Mounjaro/Zepbound). Novo Nordisk's currently marketed drugs, Ozempic, Wegovy and Rybelsus, are semaglutide, a single GLP-1 agonist. Eli Lilly is developing its own triple agonist, retatrutide, but the source for this story does not include retatrutide results, so no direct comparison can be made here. Cross-trial comparisons are unreliable in any case: this study ran 24 weeks in a Chinese population with a lower BMI entry threshold than US obesity trials typically use ^[1].

Why it matters for patients

Nothing changes today for anyone taking or considering a GLP-1 medicine in the US. UBT251 is an investigational drug in Phase 2 testing, has not been reviewed by the FDA, and is not available outside clinical trials ^[1]. Novo Nordisk's own global program is still at the Phase 1b/2a stage ^[1].

What the result does signal is that the pipeline of next-generation obesity drugs is getting deeper, and that Novo Nordisk has a triple-hormone candidate of its own moving forward. Over time, more approved options have historically meant more choices on formulary lists and more competition on price, though nothing in this announcement addresses US cost or coverage.

It is also worth noting what the data cannot tell you. Twenty-four weeks is short for a weight-management drug, the trial enrolled 205 people, and results in a Chinese population may not translate directly to US patients, who often start at higher body weights ^[1]. Long-term safety, how much weight returns after stopping, and whether the drug reduces heart or kidney events are all unanswered ^[1].

What happens next

• Later in 2026: United Biotechnology will present detailed Phase 2 data at a medical congress ^[1].
• Second half of 2026: Novo Nordisk expects to start a Phase 2 trial of UBT251 in people with type 2 diabetes ^[1].
• 2027: Topline data expected from Novo Nordisk's global Phase 1b/2a trial, which is testing different doses for up to 28 weeks in about 330 people with overweight or obesity ^[1].
• Timing not stated: United Biotechnology plans a Phase 3 trial in Chinese patients with overweight or obesity ^[1].

Novo Nordisk R&D chief Martin Holst Lange said the company looks forward to reporting global trial data "next year" ^[1].