Vertex Strengthens its Position in Nephrology and Buys Alpine Immune Sciences for $4.9 Billion

Biotech Vertex announced plans to shell out $4.9 billion for Alpine Immune Sciences and its experimental drug povetacicept to treat IgA nephropathy, a kidney disease that has attracted growing interest from big drug companies and other investors.

At $65 a share, Vertex will pay a substantial premium to Alpine, whose shares closed Tuesday at $37.57. The deal is expected to close in the second quarter of this year, Vertex said.

Read more on the subject and find the most important business news from around the world with the Born2Invest mobile app.

The acquisition is also one of the first major bets for Kewalramani, who became CEO of Vertex in 2020

Before entering pharmaceuticals, Kewalramani was a nephrologist, and Alpine’s program deepens Vertex’s pipeline in kidney disease, which includes other drugs in the clinical phase.
Vertex ended 2023 with over $10 billion in cash and cash equivalents, but so far the biotech has preferred to rely on internal R&D activities and partnerships with CRISPR Therapeutics on specific technologies, such as CRISPR/Cas9.

Vertex made its name in the field of cystic fibrosis, but in recent years it has expanded to focus on a variety of research and development projects, from pain to diabetes to sickle cell disease.

Povetacicept’s Therapeutic Potential

In announcing the deal with Alpine, Vertex called povetacicept a “pipeline-in-a-product,” suggesting it will consider several other indications for the drug while pursuing the renal indication.

Alpine’s lead molecule, povetacicept (ALPN-303), is a highly potent and effective dual antagonist of BAFF (B-cell activating factor) and APRIL (a proliferation-inducing ligand).

During Phase 2, povetacicept demonstrated potential best-in-class efficacy in IgA nephropathy (IgAN). IgAN is a serious, progressive autoimmune disease of the kidney that can lead to end-stage renal disease. There are no approved therapies that target the underlying cause of IgAN.

At the same time as today’s announcement, the Seattle biotech shared updated data on povetacicept at the World Congress of Nephrology. In a Phase 1b/2a study, patients who received an 80 mg dose experienced a 64.1% reduction from baseline in urinary protein-to-creatinine ratio at 36 weeks, a measure indicative of kidney function, he said. Alpine. The company plans to enter Phase 3 in the second half of this year.

Due to its mechanism of action as a dual BAFF/APRIL antagonist, povetacicept has the potential to benefit patients with other serious autoimmune kidney diseases, such as membranous nephropathy and lupus nephritis, as well as autoimmune cytopenias. Clinical studies are ongoing in renal indications and autoimmune cytopenias.

IgA Nephropathy

IgAN is the most common cause of primary (idiopathic) glomerulonephritis worldwide, affecting approximately 130,000 people in the United States. Povetacicept is on track to enter Phase 3 clinical development in the second half of 2024.

IgA nephropathy, or IgAN, is a growing area of ​​investment for drug developers. Last year, Novartis agreed to pay $3.2 billion for Chinook Therapeutics, building the basis of its current IgAN drug.

__

(Featured image by julien Tromeur via Unsplash)

DISCLAIMER: This article was written by a third party contributor and does not reflect the opinion of Born2Invest, its management, staff or its associates. Please review our disclaimer for more information.

This article may include forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements generally are identified by the words “believe,” “project,” “estimate,” “become,” “plan,” “will,” and similar expressions. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks as well as uncertainties, including those discussed in the following cautionary statements and elsewhere in this article and on this site. Although the Company may believe that its expectations are based on reasonable assumptions, the actual results that the Company may achieve may differ materially from any forward-looking statements, which reflect the opinions of the management of the Company only as of the date hereof. Additionally, please make sure to read these important disclosures.

First published in PHARMASTAR. A third-party contributor translated and adapted the articles from the originals. In case of discrepancy, the originals will prevail.

Although we made reasonable efforts to provide accurate translations, some parts may be incorrect. Born2Invest assumes no responsibility for errors, omissions or ambiguities in the translations provided on this website. Any person or entity relying on translated content does so at their own risk. Born2Invest is not responsible for losses caused by such reliance on the accuracy or reliability of translated information. If you wish to report an error or inaccuracy in the translation, we encourage you to contact us