What Eccogene does

Eccogene, Inc. is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company founded in 2018 by drug-discovery veterans from Lilly China R&D and GlaxoSmithKline. Headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts with research operations in Shanghai's Zhangjiang district, Eccogene focuses on discovering and developing oral small molecule therapeutics for cardiometabolic and inflammatory diseases — principally obesity, type 2 diabetes, MASH/NASH, dyslipidemia, and osteoarthritis pain. The company's core technology platform is a translational small molecule discovery engine that targets metabolic disease pathways including GLP-1, THR-β, SSAO/VAP-1, GIP, and amylin, with design priorities of oral once-daily dosing, improved PK/PD and safety profiles, and combinability with GLP-1 receptor agonists.

The pipeline is anchored by ECC5004 (elecoglipron/AZD5004), an internally discovered, once-daily oral small molecule GLP-1 receptor agonist that has demonstrated best-in-class potential in preclinical and Phase 1 data and is now in AstraZeneca's hands for Phase 2b/3 development. Wholly-owned clinical assets include ECC4703, a selective liver-targeting THR-β full agonist in Phase 2a for MASH and as an adjunct to semaglutide in obesity (MIST trial), and ECC0509, a peripherally restricted SSAO/VAP-1 inhibitor in Phase 2a for MASH and osteoarthritis pain. Preclinical programs target GIP, amylin, and a unimolecular poly-agonist (UPA) engaging GLP-1R, GIPR, and amylin receptors.

Eccogene operates an asset-light licensing business model, monetizing its pipeline through upfront payments, development and regulatory milestones, and royalties from pharmaceutical partners rather than building its own commercial organization. The AstraZeneca license for ECC5004 generated a $185 million upfront in November 2023 and a $60 million milestone in October 2024, with up to $1.825 billion in additional potential milestones and tiered royalties; Eccogene retains co-development and co-commercialization rights in China. The company is funded by a syndicate of healthcare-focused venture investors including Delos Capital, Oriza Seed Capital, New Alliance Capital, and Zhangjiang Healthcare Venture Capital, and has secured multiple FDA IND clearances across its pipeline.

Name

Eccogene

Legal name

Eccogene, Inc.

Website

https://eccogene.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Eccogene is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing oral small molecule therapeutics for cardiometabolic and inflammatory diseases. Its pipeline includes an oral GLP-1 receptor agonist licensed to AstraZeneca plus wholly-owned THR-β and SSAO programs for obesity, type 2 diabetes, and MASH.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Cardiometabolic Therapeutics

NAICS

Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing (3254), Pharmaceutical Preparation Manufacturing (325412)

SIC

Pharmaceutical Preparations (2834)

akta.pro primary industry

Cardiometabolic Pharmaceuticals (Cardiovascular/Diabetes/Obesity) (HLAIAAAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Gastroenterology & Hepatology Pharmaceuticals (HLAIAAAI), Cardiology & Vascular Specialty Pharmaceuticals (HLAIACAG), Immunology & Inflammation Pharmaceuticals (HLAIAAAD)

Keywords

• Small molecule therapeutics
• Cardiometabolic drug discovery
• Oral GLP-1 agonists
• Metabolic disease treatments
• Anti-obesity pharmaceuticals

Headquarters

HQ city

Shanghai

HQ country

China

HQ region

Asia

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Licensing and Milestone Payments: Eccogene generates revenue through licensing agreements with pharmaceutical partners, receiving upfront payments, milestone payments tied to clinical, regulatory, and commercial achievements, and tiered royalties on net product sales. The AstraZeneca deal for ECC5004 includes $185 million upfront, up to $1.825 billion in future milestones, and royalty payments.
2. Series B Equity Financing: CNY 180 million (approximately $25 million) Series B financing co-led by New Alliance Capital and Zhangjiang Healthcare Venture Capital, with participation from Rockbleu Capital, YuFu Investment, Huajin Capital, Elikon Venture, Delos Capital, Oriza Seed Capital, and Qingsong Capital.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Eccogene discovers and develops oral small molecule drug candidates for cardiometabolic and inflammatory diseases, with a pipeline targeting obesity, type 2 diabetes, MASH/NASH, dyslipidemia, and OA pain. Its lead asset ECC5004 (elecoglipron/AZD5004), an oral once-daily small molecule GLP-1 receptor agonist, has been exclusively licensed to AstraZeneca for global development and commercialization. The company also independently advances ECC4703 (THR-β full agonist), ECC0509 (SSAO inhibitor), and preclinical programs targeting GIP, amylin, and a unimolecular poly-agonist.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• ECC5004 / Elecoglipron (AZD5004) Once-daily, low-dose oral small molecule GLP-1 receptor agonist discovered internally by Eccogene; best-in-class potential with favorable safety/tolerability and clinically meaningful weight reduction in Phase 1b. Licensed to AstraZeneca globally (all territories except China) for development and commercialization across obesity, type 2 diabetes, and related cardiometabolic indications; Eccogene retains co-development and co-commercialization rights in China.
• ECC4703 β-selective, liver-targeting thyroid hormone receptor (THR-β) full agonist with once-daily oral dosing, designed for MASH/NASH, dyslipidemia, and weight management (including combination use with GLP-1 receptor agonists). Demonstrated superiority over partial agonist MGL-3196 in preclinical studies and favorable Phase 1 safety, PK/PD, and target engagement.
• ECC0509 Highly selective, peripherally distributed small molecule inhibitor of SSAO/VAP-1 with minimal brain penetration, developed for NASH/MASH and osteoarthritis pain, with favorable safety and target engagement profiles demonstrated in Phase 1.
• GIP Program (Small Molecule GIPR Agonist) Preclinical small molecule GIP receptor agonist program targeting metabolic diseases, part of Eccogene's broader pipeline exploring proven metabolic pathways beyond GLP-1.
• Amylin Program (Small Molecule AmylinR Agonist) Preclinical small molecule amylin receptor agonist program targeting metabolic diseases, designed to complement GLP-1-based therapies for enhanced metabolic benefits.
• UPA Program (Unimolecular Poly-agonist) Preclinical unimolecular poly-agonist that engages GLP-1R, GIPR, and Amylin receptors in a single molecular entity, designed to deliver enhanced metabolic benefits versus single-pathway agonists.

Named customers2 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered flagship and minor.

• AstraZenecaflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 November 2023Eccogene entered an exclusive license agreement with AstraZeneca in November 2023 for ECC5004/AZD5004, an oral small molecule GLP-1 receptor agonist. AstraZeneca received exclusive global rights for development and commercialization in all territories except China, where Eccogene retains co-development and co-commercialization rights. Eccogene received $185 million upfront and is eligible for up to $1.825 billion in future clinical, regulatory, and commercial milestones, plus tiered royalties on net sales. AstraZeneca is advancing ECC5004 (now called elecoglipron or AZD5004) through Phase 2b and Phase 3 trials.
• CSPC PharmaceuticalsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAstraZeneca has established collaborations with partners including Eccogene, CSPC Pharmaceuticals, the SOPHIA Consortium, FNIH, and Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica to advance next-generation therapies for obesity and type 2 diabetes.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Structure Therapeutics: Clinical-stage biotech developing oral small molecule GLP-1 receptor agonists (GSBR-1290) for obesity and type 2 diabetes. Direct competitor in oral GLP-1 RA space with similar best-in-class positioning strategy.
• Viking Therapeutics: Clinical-stage biotech developing VK2735 (oral and subcutaneous GLP-1/GIP dual agonist) for obesity. Comparable pipeline focus on oral and injectable cardiometabolic candidates with similar licensing/partnering strategy.
• Terns Pharmaceuticals: Clinical-stage biotech developing TERN-601 (oral GLP-1 RA) and other oral small molecules for obesity. Direct peer in oral GLP-1 development with similar China-related operational footprint.
• Madrigal Pharmaceuticals: Developed resmetirom (Rezdiffra), the first FDA-approved THR-β agonist for MASH. Directly relevant peer for Eccogene's ECC4703 THR-β agonist program targeting the same MASH/NASH indication.
• Akero Therapeutics: Clinical-stage biotech developing efruxifermin (FGF21 analog) for MASH. Comparable peer in MASH/NASH therapeutics with similar Phase 2/3 development path and licensing economics potential.
• 89bio: Clinical-stage biotech developing pegozafermin (FGF21 analog) for MASH. Comparable peer in MASH/NASH with similar clinical-stage positioning and licensing partnership potential.

Regional players

• Innovent Biologics: China-based biopharmaceutical company developing mazdutide (IBI362), a GLP-1/glucagon dual agonist for diabetes and obesity. Regional peer in cardiometabolic space with comparable China commercial footprint and oral/injectable metabolic pipeline.
• Sciwind Biosciences: China-based biotech developing ecoglutide (injectable GLP-1) and oral peptide formulations for metabolic diseases. Regional peer in the China cardiometabolic space with comparable GLP-1 development focus.

Broad incumbents

• Pfizer: Large pharmaceutical company developing danuglipron, an oral small molecule GLP-1 RA for obesity and diabetes. Broad incumbent in the same oral GLP-1 space with massive commercialization capabilities competing with Eccogene's ECC5004.
• Eli Lilly: Global pharmaceutical leader with orforglipron (oral GLP-1 RA) in late-stage development and established injectable franchise (semaglutide via Mounjaro/Zepbound competitor Novo Nordisk). Broad incumbent whose R&D lineage includes Eccogene's founders.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/eccogene

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors12 records

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Eccogene