Variant Bio Partners with Novo

Seattle, WA — Variant Bio, a leader in genomics-driven drug discovery, has announced a groundbreaking partnership with Novo Nordisk to uncover new treatments for metabolic diseases like obesity. The multi-year collaboration will focus on using genetic insights from diverse populations to find innovative solutions for these widespread health challenges.

Focusing on Unmet Needs

"Metabolic diseases affect people across the globe, yet much of the genetic research so far has been centered on populations of European descent," said David Moller, Chief Scientific Officer at Variant Bio. "We believe this partnership will help us better understand how genetic variation influences metabolic health, paving the way for new treatment options that truly reflect the diversity of patients worldwide."

Novo Nordisk shares this vision. "By collaborating with Variant Bio, we’re aiming to uncover the genetic roots of metabolic diseases in populations that have been underrepresented in research," said Bei Zhang, Corporate Vice President of Global Drug Discovery at Novo Nordisk. "We’re confident that these insights will improve our ability to create meaningful and effective treatments."

Breaking New Ground with Cutting-Edge Technology

At the heart of the partnership is Variant Bio’s powerful VB-Inference platform, which uses advanced machine learning and statistical tools to connect genetic data with detailed health information. Unlike traditional approaches, VB-Inference digs deeper into how diseases work at the molecular level, using data like gene activity and protein levels to guide drug discovery.

"With Novo Nordisk’s world-class expertise in metabolic diseases and our innovative technology, we’re poised to make discoveries that could change lives," said Stephane Castel, Chief Technology Officer and Co-Founder of Variant Bio.

A Commitment to Giving Back

Variant Bio is committed to sharing the benefits of its work. Through its long-term benefit-sharing program, communities that contribute genetic data to the research will receive financial support from this collaboration.

A Powerful Partnership

Novo Nordisk will provide Variant Bio with an initial funding package of up to $50 million, including upfront payments and research investments. Additional milestone payments will follow as new treatment targets are discovered.

Looking Ahead

This collaboration marks an exciting step forward in tackling metabolic diseases. By combining Variant Bio’s cutting-edge genomics research with Novo Nordisk’s expertise in drug development, the partnership holds great promise for improving the lives of patients worldwide.

"We’re thrilled to partner with Novo Nordisk to transform genetic research into real-world treatments," said Moller. "This is about more than science—it’s about creating solutions that work for everyone, everywhere."