Eli Lilly expanded its GLP-2 strategy through a licensing deal with Hanmi Pharm for sonefpeglutide, a long-acting GLP-2 analog being developed in short bowel syndrome (SBS). Lilly will pay $75 million upfront and can earn up to $1.185 billion in development, regulatory, and commercialization milestones, while Hanmi keeps rights in Korea. Sonefpeglutide is currently in a global Phase 2 trial (NCT04775706) for SBS, where Lilly will assume global development and commercialization responsibilities outside Korea, while Hanmi continues to lead the Phase 2 study through completion. The asset is delivered via Lilly’s antibody-linked formulation approach designed to improve in-body stability. For the GI rare-disease market, the agreement adds a challenger to Takeda’s Gattex and aligns Lilly’s GLP portfolio expansion with an unmet need for less burdensome, long-acting dosing options in a population with limited therapeutic alternatives.