AstraZeneca rare disease unit acquires Pfizer portfolio for USD 1 billion
AstraZeneca's Rare-Disease Unit
Cambridge: Alexion, AstraZeneca Rare Disease, has completed a definitive purchase and licence agreement for a portfolio of preclinical rare disease gene therapy programmes and enabling technologies from Pfizer Inc.
These new resources build on the combined capabilities of Alexion and AstraZeneca in genomic medicine, with the objective to develop new genetic therapies with improved safety and efficacy profiles. Additionally, several of the Pfizer employees associated with the portfolio will join Alexion as employees.
Alexion has purchased and licenced the assets of Pfizer’s early-stage rare disease gene therapy portfolio for a total consideration of up to $1bn, plus tiered royalties on sales.
Alexion, AstraZeneca Rare Disease, is the group within AstraZeneca focused on rare diseases, created following the 2021 acquisition of Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Alexion focuses its research efforts on novel molecules and targets in the complement cascade and its development efforts on haematology, nephrology, neurology, metabolic disorders, cardiology and ophthalmology. Headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts, Alexion has offices around the globe and serves patients in more than 50 countries.
