Novo Nordisk is licensing Lexicon Pharmaceuticals' experimental obesity drug in a deal worth up to $1 billion, the Danish drugmaker's second deal this week, as it looks to strengthen the pipeline of its weight-loss treatments.

Lexicon Pharmaceuticals shares jumped nearly 75% in early trading Friday after the biopharmaceutical company inked a license agreement potentially worth $1 billion with Danish drug maker Novo Nordisk.

Lexicon is eligible to receive upfront and near-term milestone payments of up to $75 million. In total, Lexicon will be eligible to receive $1 billion in upfront and potential development, regulatory and sales milestone payments.