Novo Nordisk to buy two pharma research companies
pharmafile | August 27, 2015 | News story | Medical Communications, Research and Development, Sales and Marketing | Novo Nordisk, mergers and acquisitions
Novo Nordisk is to acquire two privately-held biopharmaceutical research companies specialising in diabetes, for undisclosed sums.
Calibrium and MB2, formed in 2013 and 2014 respectively, are both based in Indiana, US and are developing a portfolio of novel drug candidates for diabetes and related metabolic diseases.
Novo Nordisk, which this week announced a $2 billion expansion of its diabetes drug production facilities in the US and Denmark, said the three parties had agreed not to disclose financial details of the transactions, which are subject to US regulatory approval and expected to close during the third quarter of 2015.
Novo said the acquisition would expand its portfolio of projects and intellectual property rights within diabetes and obesity and provide a basis for expanding its research presence in the US.
It will complement the $1.2 billion expansion of Novo’s production facilities at Clayton, North Carolina, set for completion in 2020.
Mads Krogsgaard Thomsen, executive vice president and chief science officer of Novo Nordisk, says: “We are always on the lookout for ways to strengthen our leadership position within therapeutic proteins. This research team has demonstrated world-class capabilities in protein design and created a project portfolio of innovative product leads that fit very well with our aspirations within diabetes and obesity.”
Dr Richard DiMarchi, chief scientific officer and co-founder of Calibrium and MB2, comments: “It’s an honour to join the global Novo Nordisk research community. Their intense focus on metabolic diseases, which over the years has led to numerous breakthrough protein-based medicines, aligns perfectly with my career-long priorities. I’m optimistic that together we can create novel, transformative therapies in the fight against the global epidemic of diabetes and obesity.”
Calibrum, which focuses on focused on the discovery and early development of novel peptides, was launched by former Marcadia Biotech executives: Fritz French and Richard DiMarchi, with funding of $1.7 million. Marcadia Biotech was sold to Roche for $287 million in 2011. DiMarchi also co-founded MB2, with chief executive Kent Hawryluk.
Joel Levy
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