Rani Therapeutics Holdings, Inc. (Nasdaq: RANI) announced a research and development collaboration with PegBio Co., Ltd. to explore oral delivery of multiple obesity and metabolic disease drug candidates using Rani's RaniPill® platform, according to a press release issued July 9, 2026.

Under the agreement, the two companies will collaborate on preclinical development of RaniPill formulations for multiple molecules from PegBio's obesity and metabolic disease portfolio. The goal is to identify candidates suitable for advancement into clinical development.

The collaboration adds to Rani's existing obesity programs, which include RT-114, a GLP-1/GLP-2 dual agonist developed in partnership with ProGen that is currently in a Phase 1 trial. Rani has also completed preclinical studies evaluating semaglutide and other obesity candidates using the RaniPill platform, with results the company says showed pharmacokinetics, bioavailability, pharmacodynamics, and weight loss comparable to subcutaneous injections.

Talat Imran, Chief Executive Officer of Rani, said the collaboration reflects the company's strategy to broaden its obesity franchise across multiple mechanisms of action. Michael Xu, Chief Executive Officer of PegBio, said the RaniPill platform could enable oral delivery of PegBio's molecules.

Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.