Ipsen to acquire Albireo accelerating growth in rare disease with treatments for several pediatric liver diseases

Ipsen and Albireo announced that they have entered into a definitive merger agreement under which Ipsen will acquire Albireo, a leading innovator in bile-acid modulators to treat pediatric and adult cholestatic liver diseases. The anticipated acquisition will enrich Ipsen’s Rare Disease portfolio and pipeline.

The lead medicine in Albireo’s pipeline is Bylvay (odevixibat), a potent, once-daily, oral, non-systemic ileal bile acid transport inhibitor (IBATi). Bylvay was approved in 2021 in the U.S. for the treatment of pruritus in patients three months of age and older with progressive familial intrahepatic cholestasis (PFIC), and in the E.U. for the treatment of PFIC in patients aged six months or older. Pruritus is one of the most prominent and problematic manifestations of the disease, often resulting in severely diminished quality of life. Bylvay has orphan exclusivity for the approved indications in PFIC in the U.S. and E.U.

“We are excited about the potential of Albireo’s assets and scientific expertise, which we gain through this acquisition, and we believe this is a compelling growth opportunity for Ipsen.” said David Loew, Chief Executive Officer of Ipsen in a press release. “Our Rare Disease franchise is strengthened with Bylvay, which, in addition to being the first-approved treatment in PFIC, has two further indications being investigated in rare liver conditions that are underserved. Additionally, Bylvay and the clinical and preclinical novel bile acid transport inhibitors in Albireo’s portfolio complement our own pipeline in liver disease.”

Read the full press release here.