Shire acquires Meritage Pharma
Adds Phase III-ready rare gastrointestinal disease product to pipeline
Shire has acquired Meritage Pharma, a privately-held company based in San Diego, California, for an upfront fee of US$70m plus contingent payments based on the achievement of development and regulatory milestones.
With the deal, Shire has acquired the global rights to and undertakes the further development of Meritage’s Phase III-ready compound, Oral Budesonide Suspension (OBS), for the treatment of eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE), a rare, chronic inflammatory gastrointestinal (GI) disease.
Shire said the transaction enhances its late-stage pipeline and builds upon its rare disease and GI commercial infrastructure and expertise.
The company obtained the rights to acquire Meritage in connection with its acquisition of ViroPharma in 2014.