Zealand Pharma Revives Glepaglutide Partner Talks
The Danish biotech has re-engaged potential partners after a positive European regulatory recommendation for its short bowel syndrome drug.
Updated on Nov. 12, 2026 in Diabetes
Zealand Pharma has re-engaged with parties around a partnership for glepaglutide, a treatment for short bowel syndrome, according to CFO Henriette Wennicke. The company is primarily seeking a global partner for the drug.
Why it matters
The renewed partnership effort follows a positive European regulatory recommendation in September, after US regulators rejected the drug in December 2024 and requested another clinical trial. Zealand could continue developing glepaglutide while it looks for a suitable partner, as the company concentrates its investment on its obesity and metabolic health pipeline.
The drug received a positive European regulatory recommendation in September, while US regulators rejected it in December 2024 and requested another clinical trial. An additional Phase 3 trial is underway, and no partner or deal terms have been disclosed.
The players
Zealand Pharma
A Danish biotech company focused on developing peptide-based medicines, with a growing emphasis on obesity and metabolic health.
Henriette Wennicke
The chief financial officer of Zealand Pharma, who spoke to Reuters about the company's renewed partnership efforts.
The details
Zealand Pharma, a Danish biotech company, is seeking a global partner for glepaglutide, which treats short bowel syndrome. The company is also in partnership discussions for dasiglucagon, and is developing weight-loss drug petrelintide with Roche.
Timeline
December 2024: US regulators rejected glepaglutide and requested another clinical trial.
September: The European Medicines Agency issued a positive regulatory recommendation for glepaglutide.
Fourth quarter: Zealand expects a final EU decision on glepaglutide, to be marketed as Zeydovio.
This quarter: A US regulatory resubmission for dasiglucagon is expected.
Health Landscape
The glepaglutide case follows the 2024 US rejection, which requested an additional clinical trial, and now contrasts with a positive European regulatory view. The divergence between regulators shows how a single drug can face different approval outcomes across major markets.
For people living with short bowel syndrome, a new partner could determine how quickly glepaglutide reaches the market in different countries. Patients should discuss any treatment options with their own clinicians, since approval status varies by region.
The takeaway
Drug approvals can differ sharply between regulators, so a treatment rejected in one market may still advance elsewhere. Partnerships often determine whether a promising therapy reaches patients at all.
What happens next
Zealand expects a final EU decision on glepaglutide in the fourth quarter, and a US regulatory resubmission for dasiglucagon is expected this quarter.
Further reading
For broader context on metabolic conditions and the treatments being developed for them, explore our Diabetes section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Medscape.
