Novo Nordisk has secured the global rights to develop, manufacture, and sell a weight loss drug candidate from United Laboratories International, which is based in Hong Kong, in a deal worth up to $2 billion, Reuters writes. The Chinese investment holding company said that as part of the licensing agreement with a United Labs unit, Novo will make an upfront payment of $200 million and up to $1.8 billion upon the completion of certain development and sales milestones. United Biotechnology will retain the rights for the drug candidate in the Chinese mainland, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, the Macau Special Administrative Region, and Taiwan. The drug candidate is a triple agonist of the receptors of GLP-1, GIP, and glucagon.