Rhythm regains China rights to obesity drug amid intensifying competition

21 March 2025

US biotech Rhythm Pharmaceuticals (Nasdaq: RYTM) has reacquired the rights to its obesity treatment Imcivree (setmelanotide) in China, Hong Kong and Macau, after terminating a 2021 licensing agreement with China-based RareStone Group.

The move gives Rhythm full global control of the drug, which is approved in the USA and Europe to treat certain rare genetic forms of obesity.

Rhythm agreed to pay RareStone $6.3 million and return shares it previously acquired in the Chinese company. No further payments will be made under the deal.

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