Recommended

FDA tightens COVID vaccine use
Decentralised manufacturing consortium launched
Trial boost for myasthenia gravis drug
FDA starts publishing daily AE data
WEBINAR | The Future of Sterility Testing: One-Day Results with Advanced RT-rt PCR Technology | 5 NOV
WEBINAR | Mastering Impurity Profiling: USP’s Evolving Standards and Strategies | 15 OCT
news

Biogen to acquire rare disease drugmaker for $7.3b

0
SHARES

As part of its acquisition of Reata Pharmaceuticals, Biogen will add the first US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved treatment for Friedreich’s ataxia to its portfolio.

Biogen to acquire rare disease drugmaker for $7.3b - Reata Pharmaceuticals acquisition

Credit: PictureDesignSwiss / Shutterstock.com

Biogen has agreed to acquire Reata Pharmaceuticals for a total of $7.3 billion.

 

ACCESS your FREE COPY

 


This report addresses the key factors shaping pharmaceutical formulation, including regulation, QC and analysis.

Access the full report now to discover the techniques, tools and innovations that are transforming pharmaceutical formulation, and learn how to position your organisation for long-term success.

What you’ll discover:

  • Key trends shaping the pharmaceutical formulation sector
  • Innovations leading progress in pharmaceutical formulation and how senior professionals can harness their benefits
  • Considerations and best practices when utilising QbD during formulation of oral solid dosage forms
  • And more!

Don’t miss your chance to access this exclusive report ! Access now – it’s free

This follows the first and only approved treatment for rare neuromuscular disease Friedreich’s ataxia authorised by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in February 2023. Reata Pharmaceuticals’ orphan drug SKYCLARYS® (omaveloxolone) is under review by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) for market authorisation in Europe.

SKYCLARYS, an oral, once-daily small molecule semisynthetic triterpenoid, is indicated for treating Friedreich’s ataxia in adults and adolescents 16 years old and over in the US. It acts as an activator of nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2 (Nrf2), a transcription factor that mitigates oxidative stress.

Christopher Viehbacher, Biogen’s President and Chief Executive Officer commented on the company’s acquisition: “SKYCLARYS is an excellent complement to our global portfolio of treatments for neuromuscular and rare disease”.

“… we believe Biogen will establish SKYCLARYS as the standard of care in the treatment of this devastating genetic disease,” Warren Huff, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Reata stated.

The acquisition deal between Biogen and Reata Pharmaceuticals is subject to customary closing conditions, including approval by Reata stockholders and the receipt of necessary regulatory approvals. This transaction is anticipated to close in the fourth quarter of 2023.

What is Friedreich’s ataxia?
Friedreich’s ataxia is an ultra-rare, genetic and degenerative neuromuscular disorder. It is normally caused by a trinucleotide repeat expansion in the first intron of the frataxin gene. This encodes the mitochondrial protein frataxin.

Biogen’s recent development and commercialisation of drugs for rare diseases

In April 2023, the US FDA granted accelerated approval for QALSODY™ (tofersen) for SOD1-ALS. This is the first treatment to target a genetic cause of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). 

Additionally, in June 2023, Biogen announced new data from the Phase IV RESPOND trial highlighting potential benefit of SPINRAZA® (nusinersen) in infants and toddlers after Zolgensma® (onasemnogene abeparvovec) gene therapy treatment.

Converging knowledge and technology to transform neuromuscular disease treatment

Share via
Share via