AstraZeneca’s Alexion to acquire Pfizer’s rare disease gene therapy portfolio for nearly US$1 billion

UNITED KINGDOM– Alexion Pharmaceuticals, a subsidiary of AstraZeneca, has signed a definitive purchase and license agreement to acquire Pfizer’s early-stage rare disease gene therapy portfolio for nearly US$1 billion, plus tiered royalties on sales.

AstraZeneca paid US$39 billion for Alexion Pharmaceuticals in 2020, with a focus on oncology, cardiovascular, renal, metabolic, and respiratory diseases.

So far, Alexion and AstraZeneca have collaborated on three genomic medicine projects involving gene therapy, antisense oligonucleotides, and gene editing.

AstraZeneca’s rare disease division Alexion plans to buy Pfizer’s portfolio of preclinical gene therapy programmes and related technologies to expedite its presence in genomic medicine.

In a press release, Marc Dunoyer, Chief Executive Officer of Alexion, said: “This is another major step forward in Alexion and AstraZeneca’s ambition to be an industry leader in genomic medicine, which has the potential to be transformative and even curative for patients with devastating diseases.”

The agreement builds on Alexion and AstraZeneca’s commitment to advancing next-generation genomic medicines with the addition of complementary pipeline assets and innovative technologies.

As part of the company’s efforts to strengthen its genomics pipeline, Alexion recently completed the acquisition of LogicBio Therapeutics.

Alexion, a rare-disease company, focuses on complement system disorders, which are part of the human immune system.

Under the new agreement, Alexion will gain full control of the assets of Pfizer’s early-stage rare disease gene therapy portfolio before the end of the third quarter of 2023.

The agreement to acquire Pfizer’s rare disease gene therapy portfolio follows the identification of genomic medicine as a field in which AstraZeneca’s capabilities can help Alexion.

Upon closing the proposed billion-dollar deal with Pfizer, Alexion will snap up several novel adeno-associated virus (AAV) capsids.

Pfizer’s AAV capsids have been shown to be an effective mechanism for delivering therapeutic gene cargos for gene therapy and gene editing.

Consequently, the acquisition of Pfizer’s novel adeno-associated virus capsids will empower AstraZeneca to accelerate the development of its new genetic therapies.

These new resources will significantly contribute to Alexion and AstraZeneca’s combined capabilities in genomic medicine.

“We look forward to continuing our work to develop enhanced platforms and technologies with broad therapeutic application while integrating best-in-class expertise to accelerate promising therapeutics into the clinic,” underscored Marc Dunoyer.

Additionally, Alexion is set to welcome Pfizer staff associated with the portfolio of preclinical gene therapy programmes and enabling technologies.

Alexion’s growth in genomic medicine will be aided by the proposed acquisition of Pfizer’s novel adeno-associated virus capsids, talent associated with the rare disease portfolio, and expertise in preclinical rare disease gene therapies.

This proposed deal comes as Sharon Barr, the former Head of Research and Development at Alexion, was elevated to the position of Executive Vice President of BioPharmaceuticals R&D at AstraZeneca.

For all the latest healthcare industry news from Africa and the World, subscribe to our NEWSLETTER, and YouTube Channel, follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn, and like us on Facebook.